Naval Air Facility El Centro plays a vital role in Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and NATO Allied aviation training. Its unique location and excellent year round flying conditions allow for maximum exercise opportunities. Limited non-military air traffic, vast desert terrain and numerous range facilities make El Centro an ideal environment for aerial combat maneuvering, air-to-ground gunnery, bombing practice, electronic warfare training and field carrier landing practice. NAF El Centro and its personnel provide premier support to deployed squadrons ensuring that all requirements are met. Our close proximity of runway to range provides the opportunity for more training events in a shorter period of time.

Facilities:

NAF El Centro has two operating runways: 08/26 and 12/30. Runway 08/26 is 9500 feet long and handles 96% of all traffic. It is equipped with a Fresnel Lens Optical Landing System at each approach end and lighted “carrier deck” landing areas at both ends to facilitate Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLPs). Runway 12/30 is 6800 feet long, and runway 30 is equipped for FCLPs. Numerous range facilities are available providing remote controlled targets use for air-to-ground bombing, rocket firing, strafing, dummy bomb drops, and mobile land target training. NAF El Centro has added the Display and Debriefing Subsystem (DDS) utilizing remote television in addition to acoustical and laser scoring systems. The DDS is inked with the Navy’s Tactical Aircrew Combat Training System (TACTS), which provides a computerized record of the tactics individual aircrews employ and evaluates the effectiveness of each maneuver. NAF El Centro has eight hangars that can support ten squadrons, 26 Wells Start spots, two aircraft wash facilities, various Ground Support Equipment, hot fuel pits, cold fuel trucks, more than 15 shade structures and abundant aircraft parking space to support detachments.