TSA Training Requirements

TSA has issued Title 49 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations Part 1552 that prohibits a flight school from providing flight training in an aircraft or aircraft simulator to non-U.S. Citizens without TSA approval.

Under this Rule, pilots must create and maintain a TSA account on their Flight Training Security Program (FTSP) Online Portal. Based on these details TSA will determine that the candidate is not a threat to aviation or national security and issue permission to train.

TSA applications should be made at least 60 days prior to your scheduled training event.

THERE ARE FOUR CATEGORIES OF TRAINING REQUESTS THAT CAN BE SUBMITTED TO TSA:

Category 1

For pilots who do not have a heavy type rating (over 12,500 lbs.) on their FAA or foreign airman certificate.

Category 2

For pilots who do have a heavy type rating (over 12,500 lbs.) on their FAA or foreign airman certificate, but are training in an aircraft they are not currently qualified in.

Category 3

For pilots training in any aircraft with a MTOW of 12,500 lbs. or less. (Note: in many cases, Category 3 is waived, and no TSA application is required. Check with Coptersafety for the latest guidance.)

Category 4

For pilots who are training in aircraft with a MTOW over 12,500 lbs. that they are already qualified in, for example recurrent training. No fingerprints are required.

Customer Support

Coptersafety offers assistance to our customers in the creation of online TSA accounts. TSA accounts can be difficult to create properly with errors resulting in a delay of TSA approval. It is strongly recommended that you contact the Coptersafety Customer Service Team to review your online TSA account information.

Additional resources:

Coptersafety Approval Process

TSA Flight Training Security Program (FTSP) Online Portal

FSTP Candidate Registration

TSA.gov