TSA Requirements

Recent changes implemented by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) imposes new requirements for all clients taking flight training in the United States. For clients training toward a Private Pilot certificate, Instrument Rating, or initial Multi-engine rating, proof of US Citizenship MUST BE provided to our school before we can begin training. This proof consists of:

FOR US-CITIZENS:

1, Foreign clients enrolled in our courses must generally obtain an M-1 Student VISA through their local US Embassy to participate in our courses. Our school is authorized to issue the I-20 form which is presented to the embassy to obtain the M-1 VISA. We will need the following information, accompanying your class registration and deposit, in order to complete the I-20 form:

2. In addition, prospective non-US citizen flight students must register with the TSA. The text below is the TSA explanation of the procedures required:

For Non-US Citizens: The following is an extract from the TSA explaining the new procedure. Note: flight training with AFIT is in Category 3. This allows training to commence once the TSA has acknowledged receipt of the required information.

Due to passage of Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is now required to screen all non-US citizen candidates for flight training on any aircraft. To accomplish this screening, most non-US citizens seeking flight training with FAA-regulated flight training providers (whether in the US or abroad) will need REGISTER with TSA at the following SITE:

Note: VERY IMPORTANT! When registering, use the following information:

School: Look for our school under HAWAII, The NAME OF SCHOOL is ABOVE IT ALL, INC
Name of Campus is Benchmark Flight/ Hawaii Flight Academy
BE CAREFUL... There is another Hawaii School called "FLIGHT SCHOOL HAWAII" DO NOT SELECT that choice or your application will be invalidated.
Student Identification # from school: Use Student's Passport number
Course ID#: (PRIVATE, IFR
Course Name: Private Pilot Course, Instrument Rating Course
Course Description: Course leading to attainment of Private/Instrument Rating
Aircraft Type: Cessna 172

The request will be submitted to the appropriate flight training providers, to verify that the applicant is truly seeking training at that facility. After this acknowledgement, the Transportation Security Administration will conduct an initial screening. If the results are favorable, the candidate may then be fingerprinted. After fingerprints are submitted, those results will be checked, and training may commence if approved by the AFSP. The law allows the Transportation Security Administration 30 days to process Category 1 applications and 5 days to process Category 2 applications after all information (including fingerprints) is received.

All information may be supplied online. A processing fee of $130 applies. Finger prints are required as part of the process unless they have been provided previously or TSA advises otherwise.

NOTE: It is extremely important to obtain the required fingerprinting collection PRIOR to arrival at our school if at all possible. Otherwise, we must delay training until we receive results collected locally (4-5 working days). There IS a provision where you can go to a local law enforcement agency in your own country and have fingerprints collected and forwarded to TSA in advance. However, you MUST REGISTER with TSA PRIOR to having the fingerprint collection completed. Full details on how to obtain advance fingerprinting approval can be found on the TSA website at:

You may start your training after acknowledgement from TSA that they have received the required information. You must start your training within 180 days of the acknowledgement.

Exemptions. Most training programs are now exempted from the TSA requirements. The basic philosophy is the TSA rules should not apply to those people who, through their training, will not acquire new pilot skills that will increase their potential level of threat. For example, completion of a Commercial Pilot certificate in a single engine airplane, does not significantly increase capability and therefore, is not subject to the TSA rules. Similarly, if you complete an ATP and already hold a certificate with multi-engine privileges (US or foreign) you have not significantly increased your capability. Pilots with overseas qualifications that train in the US for equivalent US qualifications may also be exempt. There are likely to be cases that are unclear as the TSA requirements. Please contact us if you are unsure of your specific situation.

If you hold a license issued by a member state of the ICAO, you may obtain a "restricted" US license based on your foreign license, at no cost, by following the procedure below. A restricted license, when accompanied with your CURRENT foreign license and medical, will allow you to rent and fly aircraft within the US, and within the privileges of your foreign license. You may also obtain a US instrument rating "based on your ICAO license" which eliminates the need to hold a US private or commercial certificate. To obtain this license:

2. Send or fax the form and required documents mentioned in the form to:
Federal Aviation Administration
Airmen Certification Branch,
AFS-760,PO BOX 25082,
Oklahoma City,
OK 73125-0082
Fax: 1 405 954-9922

3. You will receive an approval letter within 45-60 days. Present the following to any US FAA Flight Standards District Office, and your license will be issued on the spot:

If needed, we can arrange for your visit to the HONOLULU FAA Flight Standards District Office upon your arrival (this is on the island of OAHU, not the Big Island where we are located). Or, you can visit http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/ for a list of district offices.

As always, please feel free to contact us if you need any assistance with these new procedures!

CUSTOMERS WHO HOLD A RESTRICTED US LICENSE BASED ON A FOREIGN LICENSE

If you are taking training at our school to obtain an ADDITIONAL rating or privilege on your US Restricted license (which would be based on your current foreign license), you MUST apply for validation of your foreign license and authorization to take the training at least 90 days prior to the desired training date. This authorization must be applied for EACH time you train for an additional rating, regardless of any past authorizations.

Full details on the method and process of applying for this authorization can be found on the FAA's website at: