Blue Air Training opens at PNS

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Blue Air Training, which provides training for military close air support personnel, has opened a facility at Pensacola International Airport. Founder and CEO James "Chef" Barlow says they have more than 20 employees in Pensacola right now. He's looking to grow that number. The opening of the facility for the private company was highlighted at an event Friday. In 2011, Blue Air Training received permission to begin training Air Force attack controllers and fighter pilots. Barlow retired from the Air Force to lead the company full-time, and since then, the company has grown to have bases in Las Vegas, Yuma, Oklahoma City and now Pensacola, as well as bases in South America, where it helps the U.S. military with counter-narcotics operations. The company's fleet includes A-90 Raiders, BAC-167 Strikemasters, IAR-823 Brasovs and AH-6 Little Birds.(Sources: WKRG-TV, 05/03/19, Pensacola News Journal, 05/04/19)