Source: http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/8900.1/v08%20tech%20functions/chapter%2008/08_008_001.htm
Timestamp: 2018-10-23 19:13:16
Document Index: 251308813

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1101', 'art 1552', '§ 1552', 'art 61', '§ 1552', 'art 1', '§ 1', '§ 1552']

8900.1 CHG 564
Chapter 8 TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
Section 1 Process Alien Flight Student Program Flight Training Provider Requests
8-603 BACKGROUND. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) conducts security threat assessments (STA) on individuals who are not U.S. citizens or nationals and other individuals designated by the TSA seeking flight instruction or recurrent training from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified flight training providers. Public Law (PL) 108-176, Vision 100Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, prohibits flight schools regulated by the FAA from providing flight training to covered individuals unless the Secretary of Homeland Security first determines that they do not pose a threat to aviation or national security. STAs include checks against law enforcement, immigration, and intelligence databases, as well as a fingerprint‑based criminal history records check (CHRC). The TSA implemented the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP) to conduct the STAs authorized by PL 107-71, Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), and PL 108-176.
8-604 FAA ROLE. Because flight training providers have key responsibilities to the TSA as part of the AFSP, providers must be vetted. FAA interfaces with the TSA to produce information about flight schools who request approval to provide flight training to alien flight students. An “alien” is defined as any person not a citizen or national of the United States, as mandated by Title 8 of the United States Code (8 U.S.C.) § 1101(a)(3) and in PL 108-176, section 612. The TSA asks FAA Flight Standards Offices to screen flight schools before the flight school administers flight training to an alien flight student.
8-605 FLIGHT SCHOOL DEFINITION. It is important to understand that, in accordance with Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (49 CFR) part 1552, § 1552.1(b), the term “flight school” is defined as “any pilot school, flight training center, air carrier flight training facility, or flight instructor certificated under 14 CFR part 61, 121, 135, 141, or 142; or any other person or entity that provides instruction under Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.) Subtitle VII, Part A, in the operation of any aircraft or aircraft simulator.” Title 49 CFR § 1552.1(b) defines “aircraft simulator” as a flight simulator or flight training device (FTD) as defined in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 1, § 1.1. Refer to 49 CFR § 1552.1(b) for other pertinent definitions.
8-606 FAA OFFICE AND TSA PORTAL. Flight schools, as defined above, submit requests online to the TSA to be able to provide flight training to alien flight students. The TSA sends requests to the responsible Flight Standards office for validation. The TSA provides a portal through which designated FAA office personnel access these requests related to the office’s area of responsibility.
8-607 FAA OFFICE ACTIONS.
A. TSA Portal. Designated personnel use the TSA website titled “Alien Flight Student Program FSDO Portal,” located at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/afsp2/?acct_type=f&section=WN. Even though the website’s title uses the term “FSDO Portal,” all responsible Flight Standards offices use this portal. See Figure 8-6, FSDO Portal Login Page.
B. Access Request. First-time users should go to the upper right-hand corner of the page and select “Create New FSDO Account.” Do not access the portal with anyone else’s login. You must have your own account. Complete the actions to gain access to the provider account list for processing. See Figure 8-6.
C. FAA Guidance. The FAA Office of the Chief Counsel (AGC), in agreement with TSA legal staff, determined that Flight Standards Service personnel who access the portal to screen flight schools will only answer one question about training providers. That question is described in subparagraph 8-607E. Flight Standards personnel will answer “Unknown” for Portal Questions described in subparagraph 8-607F.
D. Pending Requests. After logging in to the website, a web page will appear that is titled “Pending Provider Accounts for,” followed by the name of your office (see Figure 8-7, Pending Provider Accounts List Page). This is where the designated person accesses pending flight school requests.
E. Provider Details. For each request, a screen is provided with the provider’s details. The web page displays one question (see Figure 8-8, Provider Pending Account Page). That question is: Do the name, FAA certificate number, and school type match? To answer the question, research the request in the appropriate FAA database, and answer “Yes” or “No.” There is no option for “Unknown.” You are validating three pieces of information. Checking “Yes” means that all three agree: name, certificate, and school type. If the provider is not on the FAA database with a certificate number, do not choose “Yes” even if you know the school.
F. Provider’s Agent Details. Some entries in the pending provider accounts list link to a slightly different web page (see Figure 8-9, Provider Agent Pending Account Page). Notice that this web page is titled “Provider Agent Pending Account.” This is a special case for the provider’s agent. The provider agent web page only contains the two questions that FAA-designated personnel are to answer as “Unknown.” in accordance with the agreement explained in subparagraph 8-607C. Ignore the instructions on the web page about “Yes” or “No” answers.
G. Comments. Personnel processing the requests may add comments to these web pages where a comment box exists (see Figures 8-8 and 8-9). There is no requirement to add comments. If you have information about the requestor that would be important to the TSA’s assessment of the requestor, place the information in the box.
H. Submit. The final step for each provider request is to select “Submit” at the bottom of the page. Continue processing requests as necessary.
8-608 ASSISTANCE. This guidance was prepared by coordination through the offices below. You may obtain assistance through your office management, or by contacting these offices. Offices may have additional information about processing these requests.
A. TSA AFSP. For TSA AFSP assistance, use the link on the Provider Pending Account and Provider Agent Pending Account web pages. Click on the email address or contact AFSP-Provider-Helpline@dhs.gov.
B. Airmen Certification and Training Branch (AFS-810). For information on the content of this section, contact AFS-810 at 202-267-1100.
Figure 8-6. FSDO Portal Login Page
Figure 8-7. Pending Provider Accounts List Page
Figure 8-8. Provider Pending Account Page
Figure 8-9. Provider Agent Pending Account Page
RESERVED. Paragraphs 8-609 through 8-623.