What was NAFEC?
From the Desk of the Editor
More than a quarter-century ago, the FAA changed the name of this workplace from NAFEC to the FAA Technical Center (and subsequently to the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center). Yet, after all these years, “NAFEC,” which stands for the National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center, still looms large – and not just here, but throughout this region.
Recently, one of the volunteers over at the Egg Harbor City Historical Society told me that she used to work here. “I worked in sim ops. They had to get experimental out of the name because it used to scare people. The locals used to worry about what was going on over at NAFEC,” she said. I don’t know if that’s a fact or just an opinion, but I do know you can still find NAFEC on some maps and you can still enjoy membership in the NAFEC Association. And, if you tell your neighbor you work at NAFEC or at “the base,” they know exactly what you mean.
So what was NAFEC?
Research test pilot, Larry Van Hoy, and I were talking recently about the fact that NAFEC will turn 50 years old in 2008. Larry suggested it might be fun to see how people would answer the question, “What was NAFEC?” I think Larry had a great idea. Maybe you worked for NAFEC, or maybe one of your parents or grandparents did. Whatever your connection to NAFEC, we’d like to hear from you.
You can use the link below to send me your answer. I will roll up the responses I receive and run them in a future edition.
What was NAFEC??? I hope to hear from you.
Stan
Stan.Ciurczak@faa.gov |
