About

Long Island Sound Patrol

The Long Island Sound is a crucial economic artery between the New York Metropolitan

Area and Southern New England. Over eight million people live close to its shores. The

shore infrastructure is complex – Arterial highways, rail lines, power lines and bridges cross

the densely populated area in both Connecticut and New York. Nine towered airports ring

the Long Island Sound, including LaGuardia and JFK. New London / Groton Connecticut is

home to a major US Navy Submarine base, the affiliated General Dynamics Submarine Plant,

and the Coast Guard Academy. There are conventional power plants in Northport NY,

Norwalk CT, and Bridgeport CT. There is an active nuclear power plant (Millstone)

southeast of Niantic CT.

Over 300 million tons ($800 billion worth) of cargo pass through the Sound every year.

10,000 vessels call at Bridgeport CT with an additional 5000 vessels to New London CT and

2000 vessels to New Haven CT. Petroleum and coal products make up the bulk of the ship

movements, with 47 million tons transported annually. Much of this cargo makes its way to

the Northville Oil Terminal off Riverhead NY and a coal lightering area off of Bridgeport CT.

Other cargoes such as lumber, steel, copper and fruit are frequently off loaded in Bridgeport,

New London and New Haven CT.

Civil Air Patrol (CAP) performs coastal patrols between May and September of each year

with elements operational through the fall. The operational boundaries are from the Rhode

Island border to the New York border. The purpose of the patrols is to provide rapid

response to coastal situations within the designated Long Island Sound waterway, including

1. Port and infrastructure patrol

2. Rail, highway, bridge and power line reconnaissance

3. Reporting suspicious activities

4. Illegal dumping

5. Monitoring for petroleum spills

6. Vessel identification

7. Identification of vessels in distress

8. Storm damage assessments

The need to provide rapid response in this area is critical for maintaining security of the

waterway and infrastructure, timely problem impact analysis and human survivability. LISP

patrols are scheduled flight operations which demand a high level of CAP aircrew

professionalism.

The LISP Mission is open to all mission qualified pilots and other flight crew positions.

Pilots, Observers, and Scanners who wish to participate in LISP need to contact their

Squadron Flight Operations Officer (FOO).