Flight Training Security Program
What is the Flight Training Security Program (FTSP)?
On September 20, 2004, TSA issued an Interim Final Rule, Flight Training for Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. nationals and Other Designated Individuals; Security Awareness Training for Flight School Employees, under the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act and other authorities. The Interim Final Rule established the Flight Training Security Program (FTSP).
Vision 100 requires Non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. nationals (referred to by TSA as “candidates”) who seek flight training to submit specific information so that TSA can determine whether or not the individual is a threat to aviation or national security. The law also requires that flight training providers regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notify TSA when candidates request flight training, and that providers deny flight training to individuals who have been identified as a threat to aviation or national security.
The Interim Final Rule set fees to cover costs incurred by conducting the required security threat assessments that allow TSA to determine whether a candidate poses a threat to aviation or national security. On April 13, 2009, TSA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an additional fee to cover processing of security threat assessments for candidates engaged in recurrent training.
See the Legal Notices tab for more about the laws and public notices pertinent to FTSP.
Who must participate in the Flight Training Security Program?
Under the Flight Training Interim Final Rule, persons seeking flight training must undergo a security threat assessment if they are not citizens or nationals of the United States, and if:
- They wish to receive flight training in the United States or its territories, whether or not training will lead to an FAA certificate or type rating; and/or
- They wish to receive flight training from an FAA-certificated facility, provider, or instructor that could lead to an FAA rating, whether in the United States or abroad.
Flight training providers are required to verify an individual’s citizenship or nationality by checking official documents presented. Students who are U.S. citizens or nationals need to present these documents when they appear for flight training. Flight training providers must retain these records in accordance with the Privacy Act and other statures (see the Legal Notices tab on FTSP Home).
Providers also must enter flight training requests for candidates who qualify for recurrent training to maintain type ratings. For all training events, providers must upload a photo of candidates when they appear for training, indicate whether a candidate’s training has been completed or not completed, and maintain records as required.
NOTE: Certain exemptions to FTSP published in 2004 and 2005 are still in effect. To view those exemptions, please click on the Frequently Asked Questions and scroll to: When is a flight student exempt from the requirement to undergo a TSA security threat assessment? User the link to get more Information for FTSP Application Guide