About this Unit
The Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC), headquartered at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, has served as the primary training center for U.S. Navy aviation personnel since its establishment in 1943. Originally created to address the growing need for skilled aviators and support staff during World War II, NASC has continually evolved to incorporate advancements in aviation technology and training methodologies. The command provides foundational education for naval aviators, naval flight officers, and aircrew, focusing on both academic and practical instruction. Over the decades, NASC has played a pivotal role in preparing generations of Navy, Marine Corps, and international aviation professionals for operational service around the globe.
Historical Facts
• Established in 1943: The Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) was originally established during World War II to meet the urgent need for trained naval aviators and support personnel.
• Located at NAS Pensacola: NASC is based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, widely known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation" because of its pivotal role in training Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviators.
• “Aviation Preflight Indoctrination”: One of the command’s most famous courses, API is the first stop for all future naval aviators and flight officers, blending academics, physical training, and water survival skills.
• Serving All U.S. Sea Services: NASC trains not only U.S. Navy personnel but also Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and even international students from allied nations.
• Survival Training: The command’s water survival training is renowned, including simulated helicopter and aircraft ditching in the “helo dunker”—a device that submerges trainees in a mock aircraft fuselage.
• Home of the Blue Angels: NAS Pensacola, where NASC is located, is also the home base for the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team, providing inspiration and motivation for trainees.
• Historic Buildings: Some NASC facilities are housed in historic World War II-era buildings, giving students a tangible connection to generations of naval aviators who trained before them.
• Flight Physiology: The command operates a hypobaric (altitude) chamber, where students learn to recognize and handle the effects of hypoxia and other flight-related physiological challenges.
• Massive Throughput: Each year, thousands of students pass through NASC’s programs, making it one of the largest aviation training centers in the U.S. military.
• Alumni Legacy: Many notable naval aviators, astronauts, and military leaders—including former President George H. W. Bush and astronaut John Glenn—began their flight careers at NASC or its predecessor schools at NAS Pensacola.
