The Black Aviators Network (BAN) was founded in Pensacola, FL in 1982 as a means to provide mentorship and advice to minority student naval aviators. The BAN is an aviation-focused subset of the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA).

The NNOA worked with the Navy leadership to track the progress of minority students and identify systemic impediments to their success in the training program. This proactive intervention resulted in substantially lowering the attrition rate for minorities in all of the various aviation training programs.