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Naval Air Training Command

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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 all (currently 19) Navy and Marine Corps Fleet Replacement Squadrons.

Contents

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.

Commanded by Rear Admiral Dell D. Bull, the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), CNATRA and NATRACOM are headquartered on board Naval Air Station 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 ONE Tail Code "A" at NAS Meridian, Mississippi
  • VT-7 Eagles, Advanced training in the T-45C Goshawk
  • VT-9 Tigers, Advanced training in the T-45C Goshawk
  • Training Air Wing TWO Tail Code "B" at NAS Kingsville, Texas
  • VT-21 Redhawks, Advanced training in the T-45C Goshawk
  • VT-22 Golden Eagles, Advanced training in the T-45C Goshawk
  • Training Air Wing FOUR Tail Code "G" at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
  • VT-27 Boomers, Primary training in the T-6B Texan II
  • VT-28 Rangers, Primary training in the T-6B Texan II
  • VT-31 Wise Owls, Advanced training in the T-44C Pegasus
  • VT-35 Stingrays, Advanced training in the TC-12B Huron
  • Training Air Wing FIVE Tail Code "E" at NAS Whiting Field, Florida
  • VT-2 Doerbirds, Primary training in the T-6B Texan II
  • VT-3 Red Knights, Primary training in the T-6B Texan II
  • VT-6 Shooters, Primary training in the T-6B Texan II
  • HT-8 Eightballers, Advanced training in the TH-57B/C Sea Ranger
  • HT-18 Vigilant Eagles, Advanced training in the TH-57B/C Sea Ranger
  • HT-28 Hellions, Advanced training in the TH-57B/C Sea Ranger
  • Training Air Wing SIX Tail Code "F" at NAS Pensacola, Florida
  • VT-4 Warbucks, Advanced NFO training in the Multi-Crew Simulator
  • VT-10 Wildcats, Primary NFO training in the T-6A Texan II
  • VT-86 Sabrehawks, Advanced NFO training in the T-45C Goshawk

    • Training Air Wing THREE at the former NAS Chase Field, Texas was disestablished in 1992 and Training Air Wing EIGHT 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 Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron (NFDS) Blue Angels.

    The NATRACOM is part of the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE), reporting to Commander, Naval Air Forces.

    References

    Naval Air Training Command Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA