French Naval Aviation (French:
Aéronavale) is the
naval air arm of the
French Navy. Born as a fusion of carrier squadrons and naval patrol air force, the
Aéronautique navale was created in 1912. The headquarters is under command of an admiral (ALAVIA) in
Toulon naval base. The French Naval Aviation has a strength of around 6,800 civilian and military personnel. They operate from four airbases in Metropolitan France and several detachments in foreign countries or French overseas territories. Carrier-borne pilots of the French navy do their initial training at
Salon-de-Provence Air Base.