49 CFR 1552.3 – Flight training
This section describes the procedures a flight school must follow before providing flight training.
(a) Category 1—Regular processing for flight training on aircraft more than 12,500 pounds. A flight school may not provide flight training in the operation of any aircraft having a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds to a candidate, except for a candidate who receives expedited processing under paragraph (b) of this section, unless—
(1) The flight school has first notified TSA that the candidate has requested such flight training.
(2) The candidate has submitted to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA, the following:
(i) The candidate’s full name, including any aliases used by the candidate or variations in the spelling of the candidate’s name;
(ii) A unique candidate identification number created by TSA;
(iii) A copy of the candidate’s current, unexpired passport and visa;
(iv) The candidate’s passport and visa information, including all current and previous passports and visas held by the candidate and all the information necessary to obtain a passport and visa;
(v) The candidate’s country of birth, current country or countries of citizenship, and each previous country of citizenship, if any;
(vi) The candidate’s actual date of birth or, if the candidate does not know his or her date of birth, the approximate date of birth used consistently by the candidate for his or her passport or visa;
(vii) The candidate’s requested dates of training and the location of the training;
(viii) The type of training for which the candidate is applying, including the aircraft type rating the candidate would be eligible to obtain upon completion of the training;
(ix) The candidate’s current U.S. pilot certificate, certificate number, and type rating, if any;
(x) Except as provided in paragraph (k) of this section, the candidate’s fingerprints, in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section;
(xi) The candidate’s current address and phone number and each address for the 5 years prior to the date of the candidate’s application;
(xii) The candidate’s gender; and
(xiii) Any fee required under this part.
(3) The flight school has submitted to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA, a photograph of the candidate taken when the candidate arrives at the flight school for flight training.
(4) TSA has informed the flight school that the candidate does not pose a threat to aviation or national security, or more than 30 days have elapsed since TSA received all of the information specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(5) The flight school begins the candidate’s flight training within 180 days of either event specified in paragraph (a)(4) of this section.
(b) Category 2—Expedited processing for flight training on aircraft more than 12,500 pounds. (1) A flight school may not provide flight training in the operation of any aircraft having a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds to a candidate who meets any of the criteria of paragraph (b)(2) of this section unless—
(i) The flight school has first notified TSA that the candidate has requested such flight training.
(ii) The candidate has submitted to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA:
(A) The information and fee required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section; and
(B) The reason the candidate is eligible for expedited processing under paragraph (b)(2) of this section and information that establishes that the candidate is eligible for expedited processing.
(iii) The flight school has submitted to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA, a photograph of the candidate taken when the candidate arrives at the flight school for flight training.
(iv) TSA has informed the flight school that the candidate does not pose a threat to aviation or national security or more than 5 days have elapsed since TSA received all of the information specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(v) The flight school begins the candidate’s flight training within 180 days of either event specified in paragraph (b)(1)(iv) of this section.
(2) A candidate is eligible for expedited processing if he or she—
(i) Holds an airman’s certificate from a foreign country that is recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration or a military agency of the United States, and that permits the candidate to operate a multi-engine aircraft that has a certificated takeoff weight of more than 12,500 pounds;
(ii) Is employed by a foreign air carrier that operates under 14 CFR part 129 and has a security program approved under 49 CFR part 1546;
(iii) Has unescorted access authority to a secured area of an airport under 49 U.S.C. § 44936(a)(1)(A)(ii), 49 CFR 1542.209, or 49 CFR 1544.229;
(iv) Is a flightcrew member who has successfully completed a criminal history records check in accordance with 49 CFR 1544.230; or
(v) Is part of a class of individuals that TSA has determined poses a minimal threat to aviation or national security because of the flight training already possessed by that class of individuals.
(c) Category 3—Flight training on aircraft 12,500 pounds or less. A flight school may not provide flight training in the operation of any aircraft having a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less to a candidate unless—
(1) The flight school has first notified TSA that the candidate has requested such flight training.
(2) The candidate has submitted to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA:
(i) The information required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section; and
(ii) Any other information required by TSA.
(3) The flight school has submitted to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA, a photograph of the candidate taken when the candidate arrives at the flight school for flight training.
(4) The flight school begins the candidate’s flight training within 180 days of the date the candidate submitted the information required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section to TSA.
(d) Category 4—Recurrent training for all aircraft. Prior to beginning recurrent training for a candidate, a flight school must—
(1) Notify TSA that the candidate has requested such recurrent training; and
(2) Submit to TSA, in a form and manner acceptable to TSA:
(i) The candidate’s full name, including any aliases used by the candidate or variations in the spelling of the candidate’s name;
(ii) Any unique student identification number issued to the candidate by the Department of Justice or TSA;
(iii) A copy of the candidate’s current, unexpired passport and visa;
(iv) The candidate’s current U.S. pilot certificate, certificate number, and type rating(s);
(v) The type of training for which the candidate is applying;
(vi) The date of the candidate’s prior recurrent training, if any, and a copy of the training form documenting that recurrent training;
(vii) The candidate’s requested dates of training; and
(viii) A photograph of the candidate taken when the candidate arrives at the flight school for flight training.
(e) Interruption of flight training. A flight school must immediately terminate or cancel a candidate’s flight training if TSA notifies the flight school at any time that the candidate poses a threat to aviation or national security.
(f) Fingerprints. (1) Fingerprints submitted in accordance with this subpart must be collected—
(i) By United States Government personnel at a United States embassy or consulate; or
(ii) By another entity approved by TSA.
(2) A candidate must confirm his or her identity to the individual or agency collecting his or her fingerprints under paragraph (f)(1) of this section by providing the individual or agency his or her:
(i) Passport;
(ii) Resident alien card; or
(iii) U.S. driver’s license.
(3) A candidate must pay any fee imposed by the agency taking his or her fingerprints.
(g) General requirements—(1) False statements. If a candidate makes a knowing and willful false statement, or omits a material fact, when submitting the information required under this part, the candidate may be—
(i) Subject to fine or imprisonment or both under 18 U.S.C. § 1001;
(ii) Denied approval for flight training under this section; and
(iii) Subject to other enforcement action, as appropriate.
(2) Preliminary approval. For purposes of facilitating a candidate’s visa process with the U.S. Department of State, TSA may inform a flight school and a candidate that the candidate has received preliminary approval for flight training based on information submitted by the flight school or the candidate under this section. A flight school may then issue an I-20 form to the candidate to present with the candidate’s visa application. Preliminary approval does not initiate the waiting period under paragraph (a)(3) or (b)(1)(iii) of this section or the period in which a flight school must initiate a candidate’s training after receiving TSA approval under paragraph (a)(4) or (b)(1)(iv) of this section.
(h) U.S. citizens and nationals and Department of Defense endorsees. A flight school must determine whether an individual is a citizen or national of the United States, or a Department of Defense endorsee, prior to providing flight training to the individual.
(1) U.S. citizens and nationals. To establish U.S. citizenship or nationality an individual must present to the flight school his or her:
(i) Valid, unexpired United States passport;
(ii) Original or government-issued certified birth certificate of the United States, American Samoa, or Swains Island, together with a government-issued picture identification of the individual;
(iii) Original United States naturalization certificate with raised seal, or a Certificate of Naturalization issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) (Form N-550 or Form N-570), together with a government-issued picture identification of the individual;
(iv) Original certification of birth abroad with raised seal, U.S. Department of State Form FS-545, or U.S. Department of State Form DS-1350, together with a government-issued picture identification of the individual;
(v) Original certificate of United States citizenship with raised seal, a Certificate of United States Citizenship issued by the USCIS or INS (Form N-560 or Form N-561), or a Certificate of Repatriation issued by the USCIS or INS (Form N-581), together with a government-issued picture identification of the individual; or
(vi) In the case of flight training provided to a Federal employee (including military personnel) pursuant to a contract between a Federal agency and a flight school, the agency’s written certification as to its employee’s United States citizenship or nationality, together with the employee’s government-issued credentials or other Federally-issued picture identification.
(2) Department of Defense endorsees. To establish that an individual has been endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense for flight training, the individual must present to the flight school a written statement acceptable to TSA from the U.S. Department of Defense attaché in the individual’s country of residence together with a government-issued picture identification of the individual.
(i) Recordkeeping requirements. A flight school must—
(1) Maintain the following information for a minimum of 5 years:
(i) For each candidate:
(A) A copy of the photograph required under paragraph (a)(3), (b)(1)(iii), (c)(3), or (d)(2)(viii) of this section; and
(B) A copy of the approval sent by TSA confirming the candidate’s eligibility for flight training.
(ii) For a Category 1, Category 2, or Category 3 candidate, a copy of the information required under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, except the information in paragraph (a)(2)(x).
(iii) For a Category 4 candidate, a copy of the information required under paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
(iv) For an individual who is a United States citizen or national, a copy of the information required under paragraph (h)(1) of this section.
(v) For an individual who has been endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense for flight training, a copy of the information required under paragraph (h)(2) of this section.
(vi) A record of all fees paid to TSA in accordance with this part.
(2) Permit TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration to inspect the records required by paragraph (i)(1) of this section during reasonable business hours.
(j) Candidates subject to the Department of Justice rule. A candidate who submits a completed Flight Training Candidate Checks Program form and fingerprints to the Department of Justice in accordance with 28 CFR part 105 before September 28, 2004, or a later date specified by TSA, is processed in accordance with the requirements of that part. If TSA specifies a date later than the compliance dates identified in this part, individuals and flight schools who comply with 28 CFR part 105 up to that date will be considered to be in compliance with the requirements of this part.
(k) Additional or missed flight training. (1) A Category 1, 2, or 3 candidate who has been approved for flight training by TSA may take additional flight training without submitting fingerprints as specified in paragraph (a)(2)(x) of this section if the candidate:
(i) Submits all other information required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, including the fee; and
(ii) Waits for TSA approval or until the applicable waiting period expires before initiating the additional flight training.
(2) A Category 1, 2, or 3 candidate who is approved for flight training by TSA, but does not initiate that flight training within 180 days, may reapply for flight training without submitting fingerprints as specified in paragraph (a)(2)(x) of this section if the candidate submits all other information required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, including the fee.