Yes, TSA states on their website that flight students are exempt from the requirement to undergo a TSA security threat assessment, to include "demonstration flights for marketing purposes and familiarization flights (also called "intro" or "discovery" flights)."
The TSA has further interpreted the definition of " flight training "for aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less to only apply to training for a recreational pilot, sport pilot, or private pilot certificate; multiengine rating (at any certificate level — i.e., does not apply to MEI); or instrument rating (does not include recurrent training).
No, TSA has interpreted the definition of " recurrent training" to NOT include any flight review, proficiency check, or other check required by 14 CFR § 61.57 or § 61.58 whose purpose is to review rules, maneuvers, or procedures, or to demonstrate a pilot's existing skills. The TSA has further interpreted the definition of "flight training" for aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less to only apply to training for a recreational pilot, sport pilot, or private pilot certificate; multiengine rating (at any certificate level — i.e., does not apply to MEI); or instrument rating (does not include recurrent training).
Non-U.S. citizen and non-U.S. national candidates seeking flight training in an aircraft with a MTOW of 12,500 pounds or less qualify as a Category 3 candidate. A brief explanation of the four categories:
Category 1 - Candidates who seek flight training in the operation of aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight (MTOW) greater than 12,500 pounds, but who do not fall into Category 2.
Category 2 - Candidates who seek flight training in the operation of aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight (MTOW) greater than 12,500 pounds, and who: Are employed by a foreign air carrier that operates under 14 CFR part 1546; Have unescorted access authority to a secured area of an airport under U.S.C 44936(a)(1)(A)(ii),49 CFR 1542.229; Are a flight crew member who has successfully completed a criminal history records check in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.230; or Hold an airman's certificate that is recognized by the FAA or appropriate US military agency, with a type rating for a multi-engine aircraft that has a certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or more.
Category 3 - Candidates who seek flight training in the operation of aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less for the following training events:
Each of these training events requires a separate training request. Note: Category 3 Rotorcraft Requirements - Candidates who seek flight training in the operation of rotorcraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less are subject to the above Category 3 clarification. Candidates must obtain approval for the initial license, instrument rating or multi-engine rating if the pilot does not hold a fixed-wing equivalent.
Category 4 - Candidates who seek recurrent training in the operation of aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight (MTOW) greater than 12,500 pounds, and are current and qualified on the aircraft for which they are requesting training. These training requests are submitted by the flight training providers.
No. If done correctly the first time, additional flight training does not require resubmitting additional fingerprints. However, you must use the same account (pin) number that you used for your initial flight training request in order for this exemption to apply.
Yes. However, you should not need to submit fingerprints. You will have to pay the $130 processing fee again. If you are training with an independent flight instructor who does not work for a flight school and want to fly with another independent flight instructor, you will need to file an additional training request.
Yes. The rule applies to the issuance of a U.S. airman certificate at any flight school located in or outside the United States that is providing flight training under 14 CFR.
TSA has clarified that getting a U.S. certificate based on a foreign license (reference FAR 61.75) does not apply to the requirements of the rule. However, if you choose to apply for a “stand-alone” FAA pilot certificate no longer based on your foreign license, you must comply with this rule. The TSA views this as receiving an initial FAA pilot certificate and qualifies under the TSA definition of flight training.
You are generally required to have a passport, but there are some people with very special circumstances who cannot obtain a passport. TSA will handle these situations on a case-by-case basis.
There are several companies that provide a list of fingerprinting locations. One of them is NATA compliance services. Click here to access that page.
How long will it take to get an answer on my training request?
There are factors that affect the amount of time between training request submission and response, including:
Once you have permission to train, you have 180 days to begin training and 365 days to complete the approved training. These time periods both start from the date you receive approval. For example, if you begin flight training 30 days after you have been approved, you now have 335 days to finish. If you do not finish, a new training request must be submitted.
If your training request contains insufficient information required to make a determination on your request, you will receive an e-mail notification. You may return to this Web site, select the training request for which you received the e-mail notification, and review the information you provided for its accuracy and completeness. Make any changes needed, and resubmit your training request. On a resubmission, the flight training provider DOES NOT need to validate your request again, and you DO NOT have to pay another $130 USD processing fee.
You may now cancel a training request that is in the Draft status by going to Step 7 of the request, clicking on the Edit link for that request, and clicking the "Delete Training Request" button.
Yes. The rule applies to the issuance of a U.S. airman certificate at any flight school located in or outside the United States that is providing flight training under 14 CFR.
No you do not. Flight reviews and IPCs do not fall under the TSA definition of flight training. TSA has also interpreted the definition of recurrent training to “not include any flight review, proficiency check, or other check to review rules, maneuvers, or procedures, or to demonstrate a pilot’s existing skills on aircraft with a MTOW of 12,500 pounds or less”.
Yes, this is a correct interpretation. Think of the endorsement as a replacement of the copy of the proof of citizenship. If you had a copy of my birth certificate from private training, and now I want to do an instrument rating, no need to run a new Xerox copy just because I'm doing a new rating.
Yes. The rule applies to any flight school or flight instructor certificated under 14 CFR that provides instruction in the operation of any aircraft or aircraft simulator toward the issuance of a U.S. airman certificate. This includes any flight school or instructor located outside the United States that provides such instruction.
No, nothing special is required. The requirements of the rule for flight schools and flight instructors still apply to you. This requires registering with TSA if you are giving flight instruction to other non-U.S. citizen or non-U.S. national candidates, verifying citizenship for U.S. citizens, and completing initial and recurrent TSA security awareness training.
For providers outside the United States, you will need to validate with an international FSDO office (IFO). There are IFOs in New York, New York; San Francisco, California; and Miami, Florida. Please contact the nearest IFO to you and inquire whether that office can process your request for a provider account on FTSP. If you use the New York IFO, please select the New York IFO (EA29) as your FSDO option and "New York" for your state location. If you use the San Francisco IFO, please select the San Francisco IFO (WP03) as your FSDO option and "California" for your state location. If you use the Miami IFO, please select the Miami IFO (SO23) as your FSDO option and "Florida" for your state location. Once the IFO validates your request, you will be sent a password via e-mail.
Candidate photographs must be taken when a candidate arrives for the first day of flight training. The provider, through the "Photograph Upload" link, should upload these photographs through the FTSP Web site. TSA guidelines for taking photographs are provided on the photograph upload page within the FTSP Web site.
A provider admin is the administrator of a flight training provider account. Only one provider admin is allowed per flight training provider. The administrator user ID has access to all of the same screens and functionality as the provider agent but is also able to change flight training provider information, such as the telephone number of the school. Each school MUST have one provider admin.
A provider agent is the standard flight training provider account. This type of account allows the user to validate candidate requests, submit and review Category 4 candidate information, upload candidate photographs, and mark candidate training requests as completed. The provider agent account does not have access to change school information. A school may have any number of provider agents, including zero.
Flight instructors who are registered with a Part 141 or Part 142 school should be registered as a provider agent for that school. The schools may have only one provider admin, which is generally an administrator at the school. By registering as a provider agent to the Part 141 or 142 school, flight instructors may validate candidate requests for their students at the school.
CFIs or Part 61 providers who do not have FAA school certification numbers must sign up as individual flight training providers. In this case, each instructor would sign up as a provider admin. For instructors who teach within a Part 141 (Part 142) school and also teach separately as a CFI (Part 61) provider, the instructor should sign up as a provider agent within the Part 141 or 142 school AND as a provider admin for instruction on a CFI (Part 61) basis. The instructor will validate candidate requests for the Part 141 (142) school separately from the CFI (Part 61) instruction.
The flight training provider may not provide training to a candidate who has been denied by the FTSP. If the flight training provider has already initiated training for a candidate, and TSA notifies the flight training provider that the candidate poses a threat to aviation or national security, the flight training provider must stop the training immediately. TSA will contact the flight training provider both electronically (e-mail) and by telephone and provide further instructions.
Yes, this is a correct interpretation. Think of the endorsement as a replacement of the copy of the proof of citizenship. If you had a copy of my birth certificate from private training, and now I want to do an instrument rating, no need to run a new Xerox copy just because I'm doing a new rating.
Yes, AOPA worked with the TSA to create an online course for initial and recurrent security awareness training. If the course is used for recurrent training, you will need to review new security measures at your flight school, and any security incidents at the flight school and lessons learned as a result. Training can be completed the month before, during, or after it is due. Keep the certificate for your records and be able to produce it upon request.
After rechecking the rule and with our Chief Counsel's Office, here's what we have regarding the identification number:
You may obtain a certificate from AOPA [independent CFI ( PDF document); CFI/employee of a flight school ( PDF document) and keep this for proof of complying with the security awareness training requirement. Be sure to include the information outlined under 49 CFR 1552.25(a)(1-7) on the certificate. You may also elect to endorse your logbook or other permanent records with the wording provided on the certificate that applies to you.
Yes, as an active ground school instructor who has direct contact with flight students, you are required to complete initial and yearly recurrent security awareness training.
TSA has clarified the applicability of the security awareness training. Current and active instructors must take the training. However, current and inactive instructors are not required to take the training, but it is recommended. Expired instructors are not required to complete the training.
It is not the intent of TSA for the initial training to be used repeatedly. The requirements for recurrent training differ greatly from initial (they are much less centered on the awareness portion, and more on actual security events or changes to procedures at the airport or facility), as laid out in 49 CFR 1552.23. There is nothing to prevent a training provider from using the initial program as part of recurrent, but completing that only would not fulfill the requirements for recurrent training under 1552.23 because of the difference in content requirements for initial and recurrent.
