NAS Pensacola Seven-day Public Access to Begin May 17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Stacey
(850) 434-2142
nstacey@visitpensacola.com

NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. — Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola is scheduled to allow seven-day access to areas of public interest on the installation beginning May 17. As part of a phased reopening, previously scheduled public visitation will remain May 4-7 and May 11-14.

While on the installation, the public will be able to visit the Pensacola Lighthouse, Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM). Access to Barrancas National Cemetery is always available through the Visitor Control Center (VCC) at the Main Gate to anyone with family interred at the cemetery.

“We’re excited to have the public come back and visit our great air station,” said Capt. Terrence Shashaty, NAS Pensacola commanding officer. “We understand it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to open the base to the community, so thank you for your patience.”

Public access to NAS Pensacola will be available from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. through the West Gate only on Blue Angel Parkway. All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals eighteen and older must have a REAL ID or passport.

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Navy require any identification card used for base access to be compliant with the REAL ID Act of 2005. Real ID-compliant identification cards are marked by a star on the upper right side of the card. If you do not have a REAL ID-compliant identification, you present an original or certified true copy of a birth certificate bearing a raised seal, social security card, and driver’s license issued by a state, territory, possession or District of Columbia that is not REAL ID-compliant. All three documents must bear the same name, or a former name as documented on acceptable name change documentation such as a court order, marriage certificate or divorce decree.

Access will be available dependent on available parking at the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) and Pensacola Lighthouse. Once parking is full, public access will be halted until more parking becomes available. Temporary traffic control points will be located on base to prevent public access to other areas of the installation.

Foreign Nationals are authorized access but must be escorted by a U.S. citizen. The U.S. citizen will have a background check conducted upon arrival. Foreign National visitors who have not been processed through the Foreign Visits System Confirmation Module (FVSCM) must be in possession and present a permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form 1-551) or a foreign passport which contains a temporary 1-551 stamp or a temporary 1-551 printed notification on a Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV).

The following restrictions will apply to visitors during public access:

  • No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include Concealed Weapon Permit holders)
  • No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
  • No alcoholic beverages allowed
  • No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
  • Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
  • No visitors with boats and boat trailers
  • All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background checks


Please continue to follow the NAS Pensacola Facebook and Twitter (@NASPCOLA) pages for updates.



About Visit Pensacola
Visit Pensacola is the destination organization for Escambia County which includes Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key. With over 460 years of rich history and 18 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordered by the emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico, visitors from all over the world are lured to our pristine shores every year. Visit Pensacola supports the community vision of tourism by serving as the central body responsible for building tourism as an economic engine for our community through leadership, connection, collaboration, and communication.