TSA Inspections

Within weeks of 9/11, Congress introduced legislation^[1] to enhance aviation security.  On November 19, 2001, at the Reagan National Airport, President George W. Bush signed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), creating the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). 

On the 100^th anniversary of the first powered flight in North Carolina, and with an eye toward perceived flight school vulnerabilities, Congress enacted Vision-100 Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act^[2].  Vision-100 amended ATSA, requiring notification for flight training in the operation of aircraft of MTOW of 12,500 pounds or less. The following year, September 20, 2004, TSA issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR),^[3] enacting the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP). These regulations are found in Title 49 CFR Part 1552

49 CFR 1552.25(c) requires that flight schools allow TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to inspect the required records during reasonable business hours. TSA is interested in inspecting these records for security reasons. As luck will have it, it is only when TSA requests an inspection that CFIs often realize they’re missing complete documents.

Under 49 CFR 1552.1 flight school means any pilot school, flight training center, air carrier flight training facility, or individual flight instructor certificated under 14 CFR part 61, 121, 135, 141, or 142; or any other person or entity that provides instruction under 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII, Part A, in the operation of any aircraft or aircraft simulator. In a 2004 letter to AOPA, TSA clarifies that the IFR applies to flight schools located in the U.S. and that are regulated by the FAA or regulated under 49 U.S.C. Subtitle VII, Part A, even if the training would only enable the student to obtain a foreign airmen certificate. Further, individual flight instructors are required to conduct security awareness training for their employees, including themselves, and must retain records of initial and each recurrent security awareness training for 1 year after they’re no longer an employee.

TSA General Aviation Security Courses may be completed online.  It is also a good idea for CFIs to review the TSA Alien Flight Student Program information and the AOPA Alien Flight Training Program guide to ensure they have the required documentation available for the TSA inspection.

The 2004 letter to AOPA clarifies the duty of the flight school to determine whether the student is a U.S. citizen or national. U.S. nationals include citizens of American Samoa and Swains Island. Resident aliens are considered aliens, rather than U.S. citizens or nationals.

U.S. citizen/national exemption: 49 CFR 1552.3(h) provides that flight schools must determine whether an individual is a U.S. citizen or national prior to providing flight training to the individual. Flight schools must maintain (for five years) documentation that establishes that the candidate is a U.S. citizen/national. The exemption explained in the 2004 letter to AOPA allows flight schools to comply with this regulation by 1) continuing to determining whether the candidate is a U.S. citizen/national prior to flight training and 2) making the following endorsement in both the instructor’s and candidate’s logbooks, “[I certify that [insert student’s full name] has presented to me a [insert type of documented presented, such as U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport, and the relevant control or sequential number on the document, if any] establishing that [he or she] is a U.S. citizen or national in accordance with 49 CFR 1552.3(h). [Insert date and instructor’s signature and CFI number.]]” Please check 49 CFR 1552.3(h) for the list of documentation used for determination. 

49 CFR 1552.3(c) prohibits flight schools from providing flight training in the operation of any aircraft having an MTOW of 12,500 pounds or less unless they notify TSA that the candidate has requested flight training and submits to TSA a photograph of the candidate when they arrive for flight training.  The candidate must also provide certain information to TSA and the flight training must begin within 180 days of approval and be completed within 365 days.^[4]

In a January 5, 2004 letter, TSA interpreted flight training as instruction received from a flight school in an aircraft or aircraft simulator which a candidate could use to substantially enhance piloting skills. It includes training towards an initial or entry level certificate such as a private certificate, recreational certificate, or sport pilot certificate; a multi-engine rating; and an instrument rating. Note on demonstration flights: Under CFR 1552.1, flight training does not include demonstration flight for marketing purposes and defines it as a “flight for the purpose of demonstrating an aircraft's or aircraft simulator's capabilities or characteristics to a potential purchaser, or to an agent of a potential purchaser, of the aircraft or simulator, including an acceptance flight after an aircraft manufacturer delivers an aircraft to a purchaser.”

Recurrent training:  49 CFR 1552.1 defines recurrent training as periodic training required under 14 CFR part 61, 121,125, 135, or Subpart K of part 91. Prior to beginning recurrent training, specific information is required under 49 CFR 1552.3(c).  The exemption in the January 5, 2004 letter, allows specific information to be submitted over the AFSP website at least 48 hours prior to beginning recurrent training.  In its October 19, 2004 letter, TSA excludes a flight review, proficiency check, or other check whose purpose is to review rules, maneuvers, procedures, or to demonstrate a pilot’s existing skills on aircraft with an MTOW of 12, 500 pounds or less, such as the recurrent training required under FAR 61.56 and FAR 61.57 from the recurrent training definition. TSA determines that these do not constitute flight training or recurrent training within the meaning of the IFR[5].

It is important to take a TSA inspection seriously and remain in compliance with the security regulations.  TSA has recently introduced a voluntary, non-punitive option to return parties to compliance through the TSA Action Plan Program (APP).  For more information on the TSA’s APP, see this AOPA article. The goal of the APP is to create incentives to identify security vulnerabilities, correct noncompliance, and improve transportation security. This can include actions such as tracking down missing documents, implementing more effective organizational protocols, and completing the CFI security awareness training on time.  For issues not resolved under the APP, the TSA’s Enforcement Sanction Guidance Policy covers possible consequences for noncompliance.