Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the National Flight Academy’s Vision?
A. To be the world leader in aviation-inspired learning adventures!
Q. What is the National Flight Academy’s Mission?
A. To inspire and educate future generations of leaders through positive exposure to naval aviation; we blend the culture and excitement of aviation with 21st century technology and core competencies in an exclusive, entertaining and engaging immersive environment to provide a best in the world learning adventure.
Q. When does the NFA AIR Program begin?
A. The NFA AIR is planned to open in May 2012.
Q. How do I sign up for the NFA AIR Program?
A. Online registration is available here.
Q. What ages will be able to attend?
A. The NFA AIR will be an in-residence educational facility focused on grades 7 through 12. Shorter weekend programs will be offered for families and adults. Corporate Team Building and Teacher Training programs may be held during the week. Other more specialized programs are also envisioned.
Q. How long is the NFA AIR program?
A. A variety of 3 and 5-day educational programs will be aimed at students in grades 7 through 12. Additionally, Family and Adult, highly customized Corporate Team Building, Teacher Training, and other more specialized programs are being developed.
Q. Where is the facility located?
A. The National Flight Academy’s in-residence program is offered on our flagship Ambition located adjacent to the National Naval Aviation Museum on Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.
Q. How large will the facility be?
A. The National Flight Academy is a 102,000 sq. ft. four-story structure, complete with accommodations for up to 264 students. The interior of the facility is modeled as a modern aircraft carrier, complete with Ready Rooms, Intelligence & Operations Centers, and extensive simulation space. Additionally, the building has full capability to host video and teleconferences.
Q. How much is tuition?
A. The NFA AIR will be operated on a fee basis. Tuition is not expected to exceed $1,250 for the five-day program and $600 for the 3-day program.
Q. Will there be scholarship and grant opportunities for interested teens?
A. Yes. A scholarship program is being developed in order to make the NFA AIR program a reality for as many students as possible. We are committed to providing a financial aid program that enables students from all cultural, racial and socio-economic groups to attend. The financial aid program will allow the National Flight Academy to enroll deserving students who may not otherwise have access to our program. Information on application for financial aid will be made available on the National Flight Academy web site as soon as application procedures have been finalized.
Q. Why the National Flight Academy?
A. According to experts ranging from White House advisors to national leaders in education, the state of math and science instruction in the United States is in crisis. Statistics prove the skills of American students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are declining in relation to students from other industrialized nations. Ignorance of STEM concepts inhibits the talent development required to lead in the technology-rich twenty-first century. The National Flight Academy is designed to help address these serious concerns. In order to address this challenge, we must first inspire our youth’s interest in science and math related fields. The National Flight Academy accomplishes this by using the intrinsic motivation of flight! The National Flight Academy team currently includes the best and brightest from the entertainment industry and the latest from research in the academic fields of simulation, training, and education. Our immersive environment, coupled with the most innovative methods in instruction, will foster a desire to learn and pursue the math and sciences that open the doors to science and engineering degrees, which lead to the careers of tomorrow.
Q. What is the National Flight Academy’s relationship to the Navy and military?
A. The academy is an educational activity authorized by, but not endorsed or financially supported by the United States Navy or other components of the military or Defense Department.
Q. Is the National Flight Academy actually a military academy.
A. No. Although located on Naval Air Station Pensacola, and utilizing Naval Aviation as a motivating theme, the National Flight Academy is a formal educational venture and will, as its mission states, inspire and educate youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
Q. Is the NFA AIR Program a flight school.
A. No.
Q. What makes up the curriculum or educational program?
A. Core curriculum will include aerodynamics, propulsion, navigation, aviation physiology and meteorology. However, the National Flight Academy will be more than just academics. A fully immersive gaming environment will be the centerpiece for students to participate in exciting missions. , Each mission is aligned to the National Common Core Standards for Math and Science. An additional area of focus will be on 21st Century Core Competencies, to include emphasis on core values, leadership development, peer teaming/cooperative learning, effective communication and public speaking.
Q. Is the educational content accredited and will it count towards high school or college credit?
A. The exciting and innovative academic program and curriculum currently under development by the University of West Florida will ultimately be vetted through professional educators and local, state and national universities to achieve accreditation. We continue to work with local secondary educational institutions to secure high-school credit for normally scheduled school days. In the future, we envision college-level general science credit for successful completion of the National Flight Academy course for 11th and 12th grades.
Q. What can family members of attending aviators to do in the Pensacola area?
A. During the week their child is enrolled in NFA AIR, parents will have the opportunity to explore the sites and delights of Pensacola, the 450-year old City of Five Flags. Fine dining, museums, including the National Naval Aviation Museum, outdoor adventure and 52 miles of pristine beaches make Pensacola a wonderful family vacation destination.
Q. Is NFA AIR accredited through the American Camp Association (ACA)?
A. NFA AIR is currently in the process of securing ACA accreditation. ACA ensures a safe and effective camp operation. Their review comprehensively covers all aspects of camp operations including severe weather plans, health services, staff vetting, staff training, food service, and facility infrastructure. More information can be found at the American Camp Association website, www.acacamps.org.
Q. Where will the teenagers sleep?
A. Student aviators attending NFA AIR will sleep in accommodations designed to replicate junior officer staterooms found on aircraft carriers. Six student aviators will be assigned to a room on the facility’s third and fourth floors. Additionally, male and female students will be placed in separate areas based on age and gender. Professional security personnel and overnight residence assistant (RA) presence in each berthing area will be provided when youth programs are in operation.
Q. What about the security and well-being of my child?
A. Full-time, 24/7 physical and electronic security will be provided throughout the facility when programs are in session. Access to the National Flight Academy facility, especially the berthing and academic floors, is monitored and closely controlled by proximity card readers. Student aviators are issued hotel-room like keys that allow access to their berthing quads, assigned staterooms, and work and simulator spaces. During program hours, each squadron of student aviators is assigned a full-time staff “facilitator”. Outside of those hours, overnight staff resident assistants, healthcare professionals, and trained security personnel are on-site. Security cameras monitor common areas and all hallways. A fully qualified nursing staff led by an RN oversees a four-bunk sickbay available on-site, along with storage and administration of specialized medications. Safety and medical care is based on requirements set forth by the American Camping Association.
Q. How many and what kind of staff will support the National Flight Academy?
A. The NFA AIR staff will include full-time, part-time and contract positions consisting of program management, operations, facility management educational facilitators and will include professionally certified and experienced secondary-school educators.
Q. Will persons with disabilities be able to attend?
A. Yes. The facility is fully designed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Q. How can I support the National Flight Academy?
A. The National Flight Academy relies on the generosity of donors to make this engaging experience possible. Charitable contributions to the National Flight Academy support education and outreach initiatives, facilities, scholarships and virtually every aspect of the National Flight Academy’s mission. To make a donation, please visit the Support section on our website.
Q. What is the National Flight Academy’s relationship to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation and the National Naval Aviation Museum?
A. The National Flight Academy is a self-supporting Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) under the 501(c) 3 non-profit Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. The Foundation also directly supports the National Naval Aviation Museum, owned and operated by the United States Navy
Q. Is Distance Learning part of the National Flight Academy program?
A. Yes, distance learning is an integral part of the National Flight Academy vision. Our facility will house a high-tech broadcasting studio where curriculum taught to the on-campus student aviators can be shared via on-demand, web-based learning, extending the program’s reach to thousands of classrooms and millions of students in secondary school systems around the nation.