Saufley Field Nolf Airport in Greenville, Alabama

Pensacola's Historic Training Ground: Saufley Field NOLF and the Navy's Cradle of Naval Aviation Tradition

Saufley Field Naval Outlying Landing Field is one of multiple military training airfields supporting the aviation training programs centered at Naval Air Station Pensacola, the self-described "Cradle of Naval Aviation." Saufley and the other NOLFs in the Pensacola area absorb the enormous training traffic generated by the Navy's primary pilot training pipeline, allowing student naval aviators to build landing currency and procedural proficiency without overwhelming the main NAS Pensacola runway complex.

The facility carries the name of Charles Doris Saufley, a pioneer naval aviator who set world altitude records before his death in a 1916 aircraft accident. The naming honors a lineage of early naval aviation that connects Pensacola's training mission to the very beginning of American military aviation. Access is restricted to authorized military and government personnel.

Frequently Asked Questions: Saufley Field NOLF

Is Saufley Field open to civilian aircraft?

Saufley Field is a restricted military facility operated by the U.S. Navy. Access is limited to authorized military and government personnel. Civilian aircraft are not permitted to land at or transit through Saufley Field's airspace without specific military authorization.

Who was Charles Saufley, the airport's namesake?

Ensign Charles Doris Saufley was a pioneering U.S. Navy aviator who set world altitude records in the early days of naval aviation. He was killed in a 1916 accident during a record attempt. Saufley Field honors his contributions to the development of American naval aviation.

What training occurs at Saufley Field?

Saufley Field is used as an outlying landing field for student naval aviators conducting touch-and-go landing practice as part of the Naval Air Station Pensacola primary flight training program. The NOLF provides runway capacity that supplements the main NAS Pensacola runway during high-volume training periods.

How should civilian pilots navigate around Saufley Field?

Civilian pilots in the Pensacola area must familiarize themselves with the location and dimensions of all military restricted areas, MOAs, and NOLF traffic patterns in the region. NAS Pensacola's Class D airspace and associated training areas require careful sectional chart study and thorough pre-flight briefing before any flight in the area.