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Alien Flight Student Program

Background

Section 612 of the Vision 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, signed on Dec. 12, 2003, transferred background check requirements for foreign pilots seeking flight training from U.S. flight schools from Department of Justice (FBI) to our agency.

Read the press release announcing TSA's new role in flight school training.

Program Changes

The TSA implemented a fee structure of $130 per training request application, excluding Category 4 requests.  The Interim Final Rule (IFR) also streamlined the threat assessment process, mandating the following wait periods for Categories 1-4:

• For Category 1, the threat assessment must be completed within 30 days of the AFSP acknowledging receipt of the candidate’s application, documents and fingerprints.
• For Category 2, the threat assessment must be completed within 5 business days of the AFSP acknowledging receipt of the candidate’s application, documents and fingerprints. 
• For Category 3, candidates may begin training as soon as the AFSP acknowledges receipt of the application, documents and fingerprints. 
• For Category 4, candidates requesting training on an aircraft for which they are current and qualified to operate are not subject to a wait period or fingerprinting but must still submit a training request through their Provider.

Time Line

• Section 612 required the TSA to issue the IFR detailing the specifics of the program transfer and the security threat assessment process.
• Sept. 20, 2004 – The AFSP IFR Published
• Sept. 28, 2004 – FBI received their last training request application 
• (Transition Period)
  Oct. 5, 2004 – The AFSP began accepting applications for non-U.S. citizens seeking flight training in aircraft over 12,500 pounds (Categories 1, 2, and 4)
• Oct. 20, 2004 – The AFSP began accepting applications for training in aircraft 12,500 pounds or less for non-U.S. citizens who did not hold a FAA or foreign pilot’s certificate.  The second compliance date for Category 3 was Dec. 19, 2004 for all candidates seeking training in aircraft below 12,500, even if they held an airman’s certificate. (Category 3)

Overview  |   Background   |  Category Descriptions