Roughly three years after closing off most public access, Naval Air Station Pensacola will return to 7-day public access beginning May 17, base officials announced this week.

The public will once again be able to gain entry to the base to visit public access areas including the National Aviation Museum, the Pensacola Lighthouse and Fort Barrancas.

“The decision to allow public visitation to NAS Pensacola has been an ongoing effort, as you all know, for quite some time,” base commander Capt. Terrence Shashaty said during a Wednesday press conference.

“It’s been an ongoing effort requiring all levels of approval within the Navy to ensure that we have the proper safety security protocols in place.”

The terrorist attack which prompted the Navy to cut off most public access to the base occurred in early December 2019 when a member of the Saudi Arabian Air Force, in the U.S. for training, opened fire at NAS Pensacola, killing three people and wounding eight. The shooter, identified as Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, was also killed at the scene.

Shashaty said he requested a waiver to allow NAS Pensacola to return to 7-day public access last June. Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven signed the waiver Monday.

“The reason why that takes so long is it’s a process,” Shashaty said. “The previous exception of policy was allowed to expire. So we had to go through that whole process again to ensure our security protocols are what are required and needed to make sure the safety and security installation is in place.”

Beginning May 17, civilians will have access to the public areas of the base from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the west gate off Blue Angel Parkway.

All U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals 18 or older must have a REAL ID or passport to gain entry. REAL ID driver’s licenses or identification cards have a star on the upper right corner of the card.

Those without a REAL ID-compliant identification card will be required to bring a certified copy of their birth certificate, social security card and a driver’s license or state-issued ID.

Requirements for foreign nationals to gain base access are more stringent and can be found on the NAS Pensacola website.

The following restrictions will also apply to visitors visiting the base:

• No weapons (firearms/knives) allowed (to include Concealed Weapon Permit holders)
• No backpacks/coolers allowed (diaper bags or medically required bags are acceptable and subject to search)
• No alcoholic beverages allowed
• No drones allowed (countermeasures will be taken)
• Persons with felony convictions are not authorized base access
• No visitors with boats and boat trailers

In addition, all vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches and background check and the base may at times restrict access to the base if parking at the public access areas are full.