HMLAT - 303 Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 ( HMLAT - 303 ) , is a United States Marine Corps helicopter training squadron stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , California . Known as the " Atlas " , HMLAT - 303 trains newly commissioned Naval Aviator s , conversion pilots , refresher pilots , and enlisted aircrew on the new UH - 1Y Venom and AH - 1Z Viper helicopter as well as the AH - 1W SuperCobra . It is part of Marine Aircraft Group 39 ( MAG - 39 ) and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing ( 3rd MAW ) . Mission . The Mission of Marine Helicopter Light Attack Training Squadron 303 is to provide qualitative and productive training to Replacement Aircrew ( RAC ) , Refresher , Transition and Conversion pilots . This training is provided in conjunction with the AH - 1W Cobra as well as the newly upgraded AH - 1Z and UH - 1Y helicopters . RAC students entering the training syllabus are newly designated Naval Aviators from the Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola , Florida . Refresher students are Fleet Marine Force Aviators returning from shore duty billets or military schools . Transition students are Fleet Marine Force Aviators qualified in other aircraft . This command also instructs refreshers and RACs through intraservice and international exchange programs . History . Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 ( HMLAT - 303 ) was activated with four officers and three enlisted Marines on April 30 , 1982 . Today the squadron has grown to over 400 Marines and 45 aircraft . Based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton , California , HMLAT - 303 conducts an extensive training syllabus to include : familiarization , navigation , ordnance , terrain , formation , instrument and night vision goggle flight . The squadron periodically deploys to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma , Arizona , where training efficiency is enhanced due to the proximity of ordnance delivery ranges and superb weather conditions . HMLAT - 303 has trained AH - 1W Cobra and UH - 1N Huey pilots for the Marine Corps and Navy for more than 20 years , and has begun training new AH - 1Z Viper and UH - 1Y Venom pilots . HMLAT - 303 is the only Marine Corps squadron tasked with training Navy newly designated Naval Aviator s destined to become UH - 1Y , AH - 1Z and AH - 1W replacement , refresher , and conversion pilots . Although the training mission assigned to HMLAT - 303 requires sustained high tempo operations , the squadron had flown over 250 , 000 Class A and B mishap free flight hours until September 20 , 2011 , when an AH - 1W Super Cobra crashed during a training exercise , killing both pilots . In addition to flight training , HMLAT - 303 manages the fleet - wide NATOPS standardization program for the H - 1 , conducts Instrument Ground School for all of MAG - 39 aircrew , and is responsible for the scheduling of the AH - 1W / Z and the UH - 1Y Weapons System Trainers and the AH Aircrew Procedures Trainer . Unit awards . A unit citation or commendation is an award bestowed upon an organization for the action cited . Members of the unit who participated in said actions are allowed to wear on their uniforms the awarded unit citation . HMLAT - 303 has been presented with the following awards :