The Endless CAP

September 18, 2009: U.S. Predator UAVs mainly fly CAPs (Combat Air
Patrols). Each CAP requires 3-4 Predators (one doing the CAP, one or
two in transit to the CAP area and one on the ground undergoing
maintenance and repairs), and 80 airmen. Fifty of the troops are
overseas, taking care of maintenance, and landing and take offs. To do
this round the clock, each CAP requires two ground control stations.
One is overseas, to handle takeoffs and landings. The other ground
station is back in the United States, where 30 members of the squadron
operate the Predator, in shifts, as it patrols. Currently, the air
force has 35 CAPs operating in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, four of
them with Reapers (one of them is a British controlled aircraft).