US: TSA RE-INTERPRETATION

Updates and guides for both 'Providers' and 'Candidates'
will be posted on the SSA website this afternoon. Go
to the main page, click on 'The Society' and follow
links to either 'News' or 'Government News.' No need
to log in as an SSA member.

This just in from the TSA Office of the Chief Counsel,
effective immediately:

The following program updates were released to SSA
October 21 by TSA's Office of the Chief Counsel.

1. Delayed Implementation is granted in instances where
a non-US citizen seeks flight training in the US and
already holds a pilot certificate issued by the US
or any country recognized by FAA. Such pilots will,
as of December 19, be required to submit to TSA screening
requirements.

2. Flight Training and Recurrent Training have been
re-interpreted

a. 'Flight Training' is only that training a 'candidate'
could use toward a new airman certificate or rating.

-- A candidate is anyone who seeks flight training
and cannot produce proof of US citizenship, such as
a US passport or certified copy of a US birth certificate,
accompanied by a government-issued photo ID

-- Introductory flights, field checks, aircraft checkouts
and other proficiency flights are NOT considered flight
training

b. 'Recurrent Training' (which requires background
checking but not fingerprinting) does NOT include any
flight review, proficiency check or other check whose
purpose is to review rules, maneuvers or procedures
or demonstrate existing pilot skills.

-- The flight review and recent experience requirements
of 14 CFR 61.56 and 61.57 are specifically excluded
from TSA's revised definitions of both 'Flight Training'
and 'Recurrent Training.'

4. Recordkeeping An exemption from the 5-year recordkeeping
requirements is granted, provided the flight school
(1) determines whether a flight student is a US Citizen
prior to beginning flight training; and (2)in the case
of students who are US citizens, the following endorsement
must be entered in both the instructor and the student
logbooks:

'I certify that [student name] has presented to me
a [type of document, including issuing agency and relevant
control or sequential number, if any]establishing that
[he or she] is a US citizen or national in accordance
with 49 CFR 1552.3(h).'

[insert date and instructor's signature and CFI number]