Naval Air Training Command
The Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM) is a one star command that conducts flight training of student Naval Aviators, and Naval Flight Officers. Though it does not conduct Naval Aircrew training which is conducted by Naval Education and Training Command's Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC), it is responsible for monitoring the production of Aircrewmen through the Naval Aviator Production Process (NAPP). Through the NAPP, NATRACOM is also responsible for programming and monitoring the production of 17 Navy and Marine Corps Fleet Replacement Squadrons.
Its headquarters is located at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, and it conducts operations aboard five Naval Air Stations in three states. The Mission of Naval Air Training Command is to train the world’s finest combat quality aviation professionals, delivering them at the right time, in the right numbers, and at the right cost.[1]
Commanded by Rear Admiral Dell D. Bull, the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA),[2] CNATRA and NATRACOM are headquartered on board NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2009, NATRACOM's 739 aircraft logged 358,449 flight hours, nearly a third of the Department of the Navy total. To put those numbers in perspective, CNATRA flew 28% of the combined Navy and Marine Corps flight hours with 19% of the aircraft. In that same time more than 2,400 Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers (NFO) and Naval Aircrewmen earned their “Wings of Gold”.
Subordinate commands
CNATRA leads the Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM) composed of five Training Air Wings:
- Training Air Wing 1 at NAS Meridian, Mississippi
- Training Air Wing 2 at NAS Kingsville, Texas
- Training Air Wing 4 at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
- Training Air Wing 6 at NAS Pensacola, Florida
- Training Air Wing 5 at NAS Whiting Field, Florida
Training Air Wing 3 at the former NAS Chase Field, Texas was disestablished in 1992 and Training Air Wing 8 at the former NAS Glynco, Georgia was disestablished in 1975. The five active wings are home to seventeen Training Squadrons, also known as VT and HT squadrons.
In addition CNATRA also oversees the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.
Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE)
CNATRA is part of the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE), reporting to Commander, Naval Air Forces.
See also
- Naval aviation
- Modern US Navy carrier air operations
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
- United States Naval Aviator
- Naval Flight Officer
- Military aviation
External links
- Official site: https://www.cnatra.navy.mil/index.htm