TSA to examine all prospective non-US
pilot candidates
Dateline: Monday October 25,
2004
The US Transportation Security
Administration moved Friday to assume complete authority for vetting
non-US citizens seeking to take flight school training in the US,
"regardless of the type and size of aircraft."
Following
9/11, the US Dept. of Justice was mandated to conduct "threat
assessments" for non-US citizens who sought training on aircraft
weighing 12,500 lb. or more, including commercial transports. Recent
federal legislation transferred this authority to TSA as of Oct. 5
and the agency decided to expand the scope of the program to light
aircraft and noncommercial pilot candidates.
Applicants will have to submit a fee of $130 with their security
threat assessment applications and supply TSA with fingerprints,
photograph, passport and visa information and training specifics.
Flight schools will have to submit their own photograph of the
student reporting for flight school to ensure it is the same
individual who applied.
Flight schools also will have to provide "security awareness
training for appropriate staff on an annual basis." TSA said it
plans to offer an online course on its website within a few weeks.
The changes will not impact a non-US citizen currently flying
commercial transports for a US airline, but should that pilot seek
to add a new rating to his or her license, such as moving into a
larger aircraft, the candidate will have to apply for a threat
assessment from Dec. 19, a TSA spokesperson told
ATWOnline.--Perry Flint
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