SYNOPSIS:

The CAP/NASA 2026 Aviation Skywatch Mission builds on the success of prior CAP/NASA missions. As with the 2025 CAP/NASA mission, the 2026 Aviation Skywatch Mission will provide CAP members the opportunity to help NASA study high weather altitude humidity which causes aircraft icing. In addition, the 2026 Aviation Skywatch Mission will require close coordination and communication between CAP wings and regions to observe aircraft at high altitude over multiple states.

DETAILS:

Collecting the data that NASA scientists need to better understand contrail formation will require the Civil Air Patrol teams to use teamwork on a continental scale.
On the Unit/Squadron level, team leaders will organize teams of 8 to 18 CAP volunteers. They will work with these volunteers to ensure they get the training they need to succeed at the mission and lead the efforts to collect data/take photos during at least two of the four observation dates.
On the Wing and Region level, CAP/NASA Coordinators will be working to spread the word about the mission, help organize multi-unit training opportunities, and facilitate visits from NASA personnel.
On the National level, the volunteers on the 2026 Aviation Skywatch Mission Staff Team will work closely with NASA to design and implement the mission. The mission staff will work hard to create the mission plan, develop training materials, collect/ transmit the data to NASA, and provide opportunities for mission participants to be recognized for their scientific contributions.
On a Global level, NASA scientists will harness the power of the GOES and NOAA-20 Earth-observing satellites to capture photos of our observations areas from space. Scientists will pair these images with pictures that CAP members take on the ground to observe cloud formation from above and below.