Boca Raton Airport Authority Makes Significant Donation to Civil Air Patrol Boca Raton Composite Squadron

As a longtime community partner and supporter of aviation in South Florida, the Boca Raton Airport Authority (BRAA) has made a $6,594.75 donation to the Civil Air Patrol Boca Raton Composite Squadron.

In return, the Boca Raton Composite Squadron gave the Airport a plaque to show their appreciation.

This donation is part of a facilities leasing agreement that began in July 2017 when the BRAA made its initial donation of $9,602 to the organization.

“The money will be used to pay for the hangar lease for our meeting space and aircraft,” said Boca Raton Composite Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Michael T. Harding.

The Boca Raton Composite Squadron currently retains one T-Hangar and one half hangar at the Boca Raton Airport. The half hangar acts as the Squadron’s operations center, meeting space, training facility and equipment storage facility, while the T-Hangar holds the Squadron’s new aircraft — a four-seat, single engine Cessna 182 G1000NXI — which was recently provided by the United States Air Force.

A replacement to the Boca Raton Composite Squadron’s old aircraft, the new Cessna will be used for search and rescue, disaster relief, civil defense, counter-drug, air interdiction and other US Military training, as well as cadet orientation. The old aircraft has been transferred to another Civil Air Patrol squadron.

Dating back to 1941, the Civil Air Patrol is a humanitarian and educational volunteer organization that supports communities with emergency response, aviation and ground
services, youth development and promotion of air, space and cyber power.

Part of the Civil Air Patrol, the 50-member Boca Raton Composite Squadron is a key player in Florida’s search and rescue missions, including aviation, maritime and counter-drug reduction.

The organization’s relationship with the Airport goes back as far as World War II, when the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol used the base as part of its defense strategy against German U-boats off the coast of Florida.

“We have been a strong supporter of the Boca Raton Composite Squadron,” said BRAA Executive Director Clara Bennett. “They are a crucial community partner and we are pleased to continue to support their efforts.”