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It Just Keeps On
Coming....
This is a news release from TSA. Pilots… start your
engines…
The
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced it is now
requiring security threat assessments for
non-U.S. citizens seeking training at U.S.
flight schools, regardless of the type and size of the
aircraft.
Following
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Aviation and
Transportation Security Act mandated the U.S. Department of Justice to
conduct threat assessments for non-U.S. citizens who sought training on
aircraft weighing 12,500 pounds or more including commercial aircraft.
Vision 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act transferred this
responsibility from Justice to TSA as of October 5, 2004.
“September
11th taught us that terrorists exploited the use of U.S flight schools,”
said Rear Adm. David M. Stone, USN (Ret.), Assistant Secretary of
Homeland Security for TSA. “Fortifying security by knowing who trains
at these schools is an integral part of our mission to secure the
homeland.”
The program
is designed to prevent terrorists from receiving pilot training from
flight schools. As a prerequisite to flight training, non-U.S. citizens
must provide to TSA fingerprints, biographical information, including
full name, passport and visa information, and training specifics such as
the type of aircraft the candidate seeks instruction to operate.
In addition
to security assessments, TSA’s new initiative will:
- Streamline
the threat assessment process from 45 to 30 days for most applicants,
and 5 days for some
- Require
flight schools to submit a student’s photograph to TSA to ensure the
student reporting for flight training is the same individual who
successfully completed a security threat assessment
- Implement an
application fee of $130 for the security threat assessment
- Require
flight schools to provide security awareness training for appropriate
staff on an annual basis. To help fulfill this requirement, TSA plans
to offer an on-line course on the agency’s Web site within a few
weeks.
Beginning
this week,
TSA will accept applications for non-U.S.
citizens seeking flight training in aircraft weighing 12,500
pounds or less who do not currently hold a FAA or foreign pilot’s
certificate. Starting on December 19, 2004, TSA will accept applications
for all non-U.S. citizens who seek training in aircraft weighing 12,500
pounds or less, including those who already have an airman’s certificate
and seeking additional training for a new certificate and/or rating.
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