Alien Flight Student Program

Transportation Security Administration

Foreign ("Alien") flight students in the USA must be registered with the TSA. This is a predictable consequence of 9-11. There is a fee involved, plus photos and fingerprints. It's not impossible, but it's really irritating. It will definitely put a crimp on Canadian pilots who like to go to Florida in the winter and do a multi-engine rating! The table below highlights relevant information regarding the rollout of the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP). Additional details can be found in the Interim Final Rule on Flight Training for Aliens and Other Designated Individuals; Security Awareness Training for Flight School Employees (49 CFR Part 1552). The overview below focuses on pilots who wish to do flight training in aircraft (or flight simulators) for aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or less.

Alien Flight Student Program Overview:

Flight training for foreign pilots, foreign student pilots, and other non-US citizens (e.g. green card holders):

• Flight schools may not start flight training (aircraft or flight simulator) until the following have been accomplished:
  • Photo of the pilot or student taken "when the candidate arrived at the flight school for training" must be submitted to TSA. (You can't arrive with photos in your wallet)
  • Pilots and students must submit required background check information on a form available on-line at:

    https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov

    This may be submitted from their overseas location prior to entering the US for training.

    • Pilots and students must submit fingerprints (10-fingers) to TSA. The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) is the clearinghouse for all fingerprint submissions to TSA. Information on their procedures can be obtained at 703-797-2550. There are currently no procedures in place for pilots or students to have their fingerprints taken at a foreign location.
    • Flight schools will obtain a web access code from their local FSDO, then submit to TSA information that the pilot or student wants to start flight training and the type of training requested.
    • Pilots and students must provide the flight school with a current and valid passport and visa, if appropriate.

• Flight training (aircraft or flight simulator) may begin immediately upon submission of all required items to TSA and AAAE.
• Flight training will be immediately terminated TSA notifies flight school to cease training.
• Flight training not started within 180-days from submission of required items to TSA and AAAE voids all submitted information and the applicant must resubmit all the information.
• The flight school must maintain a copy of the appropriate documents on file for a minimum of 5 years.

For questions on the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP), please contact the AFSP Help Desk at 703-542-1222. E-mail questions are also being accepted at:

AFSP.help@dhs.gov

Recurrent Training Exempt?

NOTE: NAFI and EAA have contacted TSA to further define the term "current" and qualified. The TSA's definition of "Flight training" is as follows:

Flight Training: Instruction received from a flight school in an aircraft or aircraft simulator. Flight training does not include recurrent training, ground training, a demonstration flight for marketing purposes, or any DOD/Coast Guard flight training.

The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) feels that if a pilot holds a valid FAA issued category and class rating, a type rating, or an equivalent FAA issued Letter of Authority (LOA), then the individual should be considered current and qualified. The same thinking would apply to a Canadian or Central American pilot who needs to freshen up his "recency" experience. NAFI feels that a pilot should not lose aircraft "currency" under the AFSP simply because the pilot has not:

• Flown passengers for 90-days (14 CFR Part 61.57); or
• Obtained a flight review within the required 24 month period (14 CFR Part 61.56); or
• Maintained instrument proficiency within the required 6 month period (14 CFR Part 61.57); or
• Completed the required proficiency check within the required 12 month period (14 CFR Part 61.58); or
• Completed Flight Instructor flight renewal requirements within the required 24-month period (14 CFR Part 61.197).