Naval Aviation Trademark Program
by U.S. Navy Lt. Michelle Tucker and Anne Owens August 31, 2019
The day a Navy or Marine Corps aviator receives their Wings of
Gold is a day they will never forget. It’s the culmination of months
of rigorous training. From their very first solo flight, to water
survival training, and all the way through advanced training ...
those wings are truly earned.
A single fouled anchor,
surmounted by a shield with 13 stripes, centered on a pair of wings.
Those distinctive Wings of Gold represent proficiency and
professionalism. They personify Naval Aviation, and that’s why they,
along with various other symbols, are protected by the Naval
Aviation Trademark Program (NATP).
April 1, 2019 - The U.S.
military aircraft national insignia is painted on the side
of a T-6B Texan II single-engine turboprop trainer aircraft
assigned to Training Air Wing 5 at Naval Air Station Whiting
Field, Florida. The insignia is protected under the Naval
Aviation Trademark Program. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Michelle
Tucker)
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The NATP was established in 2011. It seeks to protect and control
the use of Naval Aviation’s unique marks including naval aviator
insignia, naval flight officer insignia, naval aircrewman insignia,
squadron logos, the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron “Blue Angels”
crest and script, and even the iconic blue-and-gold paint scheme of
the Blue Angels jets.
“It’s important to note the trademark
and licensing program covers all squadrons across the fleet,” said
Joel Bouvé, associate counsel for Chief of Naval Air Training
(CNATRA) and program coordinator for the NATP. “This includes the
Navy Fighter Weapons School in Fallon, Nevada, commonly known as
“TOPGUN,” and even the star and stripes that appear on every
aircraft in the Navy’s inventory, known as the U.S. military
aircraft national insignia.”
The NATP allows commercial
vendors to apply for an official license to sell merchandise or
products that feature Navy trademarks. Through the licensing
process, the NATP ensures that the proposed use is consistent with
Navy values, upholds quality workmanship, and ensures compliance
with U.S. Department of Labor requirements. Funds generated from
royalty collection help pay for the operation of the Navy’s program,
as well as supplementing the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)
program to support Sailors and Marines, and their families.
“The majority of our licensees have stated having official licensing
has increased the legitimacy of their products, which has led to
increased sales” Bouvé said. “The licenses help safeguard that
officially licensed products with our marks represent the Navy in an
appropriate way.”
Product lines that feature Navy trademarks
run the gamut from apparel and books to chocolate and coffee.
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In 2016, a video game called “Ready,
Break!” was released under the program. The game gives players
firsthand experience flying a virtual Blue Angels jet.
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Last year, the NATP issued its first
food licenses to DeLuna Coffee International and The San
Francisco Chocolate Factory. In fact, these were the first
licenses of their kind to be issued for the Navy Trademark and
Licensing Program.
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In addition, Revell, a model airplane
company, also released products featuring Navy trademarks in
conjunction with the premier of the movie “Welcome to Marwen”
starring Steve Carell.
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Other licenses include toys, jewelry,
watches, glassware, luggage, and even Blue Angels cologne.
In all, program managers have issued more than 300 licenses, of
which more than 100 are specific to Naval Aviation. The program’s
reach extends beyond merchandising ... It serves as a recruiting
tool for those considering a career in the Naval Aviation community,
both active duty and Navy Reserve.
In 2011, the Indianapolis 500 Motor
Speedway race celebrated the Centennial of Naval Aviation (CoNA),
prominently placing the CoNA logo on its race cars, reaching a
massive audience and bringing Naval Aviation to the heart of
America.
During the 2017 Army-Navy football game,
players from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, donned
helmets that featured the Blue Angels’ signature delta formation, in
addition to uniforms and footwear with the Blue Angels crest. That
same year, St. Louis Blues’ goalie Jake Allen paid homage to the
Blue Angels with a custom-painted mask featuring their iconic blue
and yellow Hornets. He wore it during a game against the Arizona
Coyotes, which received NHL Network and ESPN coverage.
This year the State of Florida is set to
offer a license plate that honors the Blue Angels in their home
state.
CNATRA, headquartered in Corpus Christi, trains the world's
finest combat quality aviation professionals, delivering them at the
right time, in the right numbers, and at the right cost to a naval
force where it matters, when it matters.
Chief
of Naval Air Training |
U.S. Navy
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U.S. Navy Gifts |
U.S.
Department of Defense
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