GAMA relieved as security processing of overseas students will from next week become simpler and quicker
The security checks that dog non-Americans who want to carry out their commercial pilot training in the USA are about to be simplified and made quicker, says the US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), admitting to relief at the changes.
The US pilot training industry, which has traditionally offered one of the cheapest ways of gaining a recognised air transport pilot licence (ATPL), has suffered since the terrorist hijacks of 11 September 2001 due to the imposition of onerous security and background checks on foreign would-be pilot trainees - and this persuaded many to look elsewhere.
Transfer of background and security checks from the US Justice Department to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will take place on 5 October for those aiming to train for aircraft above 5,000kg (11,000lb) take-off weight, and this will speed up the security clearance process, says GAMA operations manager Jens Hennig. The time for processing an application is expected to fall from 45 to 30 days, says Hennig, adding that if the applicant works for a foreign airline or military organisation, the process is "easier and sometimes waived". If the purpose is to carry out recurrent training, the requirement for fingerprinting has been waived, but the application paperwork still has to be filed.
For those wanting to train for aircraft of 5,000kg or less - which covers most ab initio students - the first requirement is for the trainee and school to supply details to the TSA, but training may begin while the clearance procedure goes ahead. But the TSA has the right to suspend training "if the candidate is identified as a threat", says Hennig.
He says the clearance process is not affected by the nationality of the trainee or where they live, but adds that the industry would like to see the procedure simplified much further.
DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
Source: Flight International
