General Questions
What is NCAC?
The NOAA Cooperative Aviation Center (NCAC) is a specialized program designed to train the next generation of NOAA Corps aviators. It is a dynamic partnership established between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and select, accredited collegiate aviation universities across the nation.
How do OMAO, the NOAA Corps, and the NCAC program work together?
The NCAC program is a direct pipeline created by OMAO to address the growing need for highly skilled aviation professionals within the NOAA Corps. Through the NCAC program, OMAO provides university students with real-world exposure to NOAA flight operations, while active-duty NOAA Corps officers provide one-on-one mentorship to prepare students for a successful career as commissioned officers and aviators.
What are the core goals and pillars of the program?
The program aims to foster and inspire the next generation of NOAA Corps aviators through STEM-focused academic partnerships. Its key pillars include providing mission-driven opportunities in real-world scientific missions, leadership development to instill values of honor, respect, and commitment, and comprehensive training that adheres to university and NOAA standards.
What are the benefits of the NCAC program?
For universities, the benefits include enhanced recruiting and retention, access to NOAA expertise and personnel for events, and college credit opportunities for students participating in summer internships. For students, benefits include one-on-one aviation mentorship with an active-duty NOAA Corps Officer, professional development training, a fully-funded 10-week summer internship at the Aircraft Operations Center (AOC), flight simulator training, and a competitive hiring advantage when applying to the NOAA Corps. Additionally, students successfully designated as a NOAA Corps aviator become eligible for a $25,000 a year bonus payment in exchange for a 5-year service commitment.
How long is the NCAC program?
The program will last for two years, or until graduating from the university.
For Universities
What are the eligibility requirements for a university to partner with NCAC?
Universities must be accredited by the Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI). They must offer a four-year baccalaureate program that includes an FAA Commercial Multi-Engine Land pilot licensing program, provide at least 48 semester hours (or 72 quarter hours) of STEM coursework aligned with NOAA missions, and offer access to high-fidelity flight simulators and modern glass-cockpit aviation fleets. They must also be located in an area with wide variations in weather activity.
How are universities selected?
Eligible institutions are invited to apply and are graded on a 100-point scale. Criteria include certifications and licensing, STEM integration, avionics training, simulator access, NOAA partnership history, geographic location, aircraft type, and student body performance metrics. A board of Subject Matter Experts reviews applications, and the NOAA Administrator retains final decision authority.
Does NOAA provide direct financial funding to the partner universities?
This partnership does not involve transferring funds from NOAA to the selected universities. Funding goes directly to students for the summer internship and, if selected to become a NOAA Corps Aviator, as a retention bonus.
What kind of flight training technology and equipment must the university provide?
Avionics Training - Flight training must be conducted on aircraft equipped with advanced avionics, including Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) and Flight Management Systems (FMS).
Simulator Access - Universities must demonstrate access to advanced flight simulators that replicate NOAA Corps operational platforms, or the ability to modify existing simulators to match those configurations.
Aircraft Type - Institutions that operate training aircraft of a similar type, make, and model to those utilized by the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) are highly valued.
What resources will my university need to ensure this program runs smoothly?
The university must dedicate one person to the NCAC Program Manager. This person will serve as the sole point of contact with NOAA, advertise the program to eligible students, and help them navigate it successfully.
Will the university be required to provide college credit for successful completion of the program?
Yes. A key component of this program is awarding college credit for successful completion of the summer internship at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center. The number of credit hours and the method of awarding credit are at the university's discretion.
How is this formal relationship between a university and NOAA documented?
If selected as an NCAC university, the school will sign a no-cost Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NOAA that lasts for 6 years. NOAA and the university may extend it if desired. An example of this MOU can be provided by the NCAC advisor upon request.
My school was not selected in the initial round. Will there be another opportunity to apply?
The number of selected schools will continue to grow based on the service's needs. As demand for more NOAA Corps aviators grows, more schools will be selected to join the program. When the application window reopens, the NCAC Advisor will contact schools that meet NOAA’s requirements and invite them to apply.
Will there be any press activity around the initial designation as an NCAC university?
NOAA supports joint outreach activities around the announcement of a university’s initial designation. This can include in-person signing ceremonies, social media stories, web stories on NOAA’s websites, and other agreed-upon communications channels.
How can I determine that the programs that my university offers meet NOAA’s STEM coursework requirements?
Accepted courses are science, technology, engineering, and math that are relevant to NOAA’s missions. Technology credits can account for no more than 50% of total required credits. A breakdown of approved courses can be found in the NCAC manual. If selected, all undergraduate programs will be evaluated to ensure that they meet the required 48 semester (or 72 quarter hour) STEM requirements.
For Prospective Students
What degree do I need to be eligible for the program?
Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate degree in a STEM field and be in a program leading to an FAA Commercial Multi-Engine Land pilot's license.
Can I apply if I am not a United States citizen?
No, candidates must be U.S. citizens.
When and how do I apply?
The opportunity becomes available during the spring semester of a student's sophomore year. Prospective candidates must complete an online application through a NOAA portal.
What should I include in my student application?
Eligible students will submit an online application that includes work experience, essay responses, and documentation of special qualifications such as professional licenses and certifications.
What are the medical requirements to become an NCAC student and eventually a NOAA Corps officer?
The NCAC and NOAA Corps medical standards are based on the requirements for officer candidates set forth in NOAA Commissioned Corps Directives, Chapter 3, Health and Medical Care and Department of War (DoW) Instruction 6130.03, Volume 1; Medical Standards for Military Service: Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction. NCAC students will be given a pre-screening medical evaluation at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center during the interview process. If selected to be a NOAA Corps Officer, there will be additional medical screening at Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS).
What is the student interview process?
Only the best candidates will be chosen to interview. Candidates will participate in a selection board with NOAA Corps officers and OMAO leadership. A select number of students will continue the interview process in person at the Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) in Lakeland, FL, where they will take part in an in-person interview board, a flight simulator session to assess pilot skills, and a flight physical examination.
How will I be notified if I am selected for NCAC?
Students selected for NCAC will be notified by email before the start of the fall semester of their junior year.
Will I have to go through a security background check?
Yes, all candidates must pass a thorough background investigation. Selected candidates must complete a security and background check process, including submitting fingerprint cards, security forms via Kiteworks, an OF-306 Declaration of Federal Employment, and background investigation applications via NBIS eApp.
What happens during the summer AOC Internship?
During the summer break between an NCAC student's junior and senior year, they will complete a 10-week internship at the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) in Lakeland, Florida. NOAA will cover all expenses, including a $5,000 food stipend, travel, and housing. Students will gain hands-on experience with NOAA's aircraft, visit NOAA facilities, and earn college credit.
Am I guaranteed a position within the NOAA Corps upon completion of NCAC?
No, participation in NCAC does not guarantee an appointment into the NOAA Corps or placement as a NOAA Corps Aviator. However, it does give students a competitive edge over their peers when the NOAA Corps selection board meets.
What kind of missions do NOAA Corps pilots fly?
Pilots fly critical scientific and environmental missions, including hurricane reconnaissance and research, low-level coastal mapping, emergency response tracking, flood prediction, atmospheric air chemistry sampling, and marine mammal surveys.
What is the typical starting salary for a NOAA Corps Officer?
All NOAA Corps aviators are paid on the military pay system. The average starting compensation for a first-year NOAA Corps aviator (Ensign / O-1) stationed at the Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida, is roughly $83,342 to $88,490 annually. This total includes a foundational taxable basic pay of $49,802.40, a standard food allowance (BAS) of $3,803.76, and an additional $1,800 annually in Aviation Incentive Pay (AvIP). The remaining portion is determined by localized, tax-free Tampa Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), which provides $27,936 for officers without dependents or $33,084 for those with dependents.
What aircraft platforms would I get to operate?
The NOAA Corps operates a diverse and specialized fleet of aircraft. Depending on your assignment, you could fly the NOAA Twin Otter, Beechcraft King Air 350CER, Gulfstream G-IV, or the Lockheed P-3 Orion.
What are the physical fitness and medical standards to fly for NOAA?
Because the NOAA Corps is a uniformed service, pilots must maintain strict physical fitness and readiness standards. You must be able to pass rigorous medical evaluations and a flight physical examination to ensure you can handle the physical demands of flight operations and service life.
How much travel is involved in a NOAA aviation career?
Life as a NOAA Corps aviator involves frequent travel. Because missions support data collection across the United States and global environments, pilots must be prepared for a dynamic operational schedule that regularly takes them away from their home station.
What are the non-flying duties of a NOAA Corps officer?
Being a pilot is only one aspect of the job; you are also a commissioned officer. This means you will handle various "collateral" or non-flying administrative duties, such as leadership roles, safety program management, crew resource management coordination, and logistical planning to support the broader agency mission.
What kind of operational environments will I encounter?
NOAA pilots fly in highly complex, high-stakes environments. Your missions will require you to demonstrate skill in a wide variety of severe weather and demanding conditions, including high winds, convective storms, low visibility, extreme heat, and snow or ice.
How does the NOAA flight culture approach safety?
The NOAA Corps places a deep emphasis on establishing a robust aviation safety culture. Pilots are heavily trained in Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles, focusing on effective communication, deliberate decision-making, and teamwork within multi-pilot environments to safely execute complex research and reconnaissance missions.
Where can I learn more about life as a NOAA Corps Officer?
Please visit the OMAO NOAA Corps website for more information on the NOAA Corps at https://www.omao.noaa.gov/noaa-corps. We also have a lot of great content on our social media channels via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
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