TSA Alien Flight Student Program

Non-U.S. Citizens Seeking FAA Initial Pilot Training

Please read the following processes. For Category 1 & 2 the approval process is long and must be initiated by the student. Please see the following presentation for the new Category 4 procedures:

TSA CAT4 Presentation TSA Category 4 process review

The following TSA pilot categories apply to Bombardier Aerospace Training at our respective Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Montreal (YUL) training sites:

Category 1 - Training:

For DFW: All Non-U.S. citizen pilots seeking their first type rating must register with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prior to training.

For YUL: All Non-U.S. citizen pilots seeking their first type rating on a FAA certificate must register with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prior to training.

Category 2 - Training

For DFW: All Non-U.S. citizen pilots that have a type rating who are current and qualified, seeking an additional type rating must register with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prior to training.

For YUL: All Non-U.S. citizen pilots that have a type rating who are current and qualified, seeking an additional FAA type rating must register with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) prior to training.

Process:

  1. Once a training course has been booked, Bombardier will provide the student with the course name (description), course number, start and end dates.
  2. The student must create a new account at the TSA Alien Flight Student Program web site at https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/. The TSA will send the student a USER ID and Password via email after the new account has been register. The student must then log into their account on the TSA web site and complete the multi-step application process.
    Important note: Customers attending Bombardier training events but under contract with CAE/SimuFlite must make sure to select Bombardier as the training provider.
    Additional note: The Montreal Bombardier Training Centre is part of the New York region FAA FSDO.
  3. Bombardier will confirm to the TSA that the student has been registered for training.
  4. The TSA will then notify the student by e-mail about details concerning the processing fee ($130 USD - subject to change).
  5. Once payment has been submitted, the TSA will notify the student and Bombardier via email the instructions to submit their fingerprints. Fingerprinting is required for all pilots seeking Category 1 and 2 training and requires separate processing fee. Please refer to the TSA web site for further details.
  6. The TSA will notify the student and Bombardier via e-mail that their fingerprints have been received. Risk assessment will then begin.
  7. Waiting period:
    • The TSA has up to five days (5 business days) to submit a final approval for pilots that qualify for Category 2.
    • The TSA has up to thirty days (30 calendar days) to submit a final approval for pilots required to go through Category 1.
  8. The TSA will notify the student and Bombardier by e-mail once approval has been given to train. Approvals are good for 180 days (6 months).
  9. On Day-1 of the course, the student must present to Bombardier the following documents:
    • Fingerprint payment receipt.
    • Their current and valid passport, pilot and medical certificate. These documents will be copied and returned to the student.
  10. The student will then be photographed.
  11. Bombardier will e-mail the photograph to the TSA.
  12. Bombardier will notify the TSA when the student's training has been completed.

Category 4 - Recurrent Training

For DFW: Non-U.S. citizen pilots seeking any recurrent pilot training

For YUL: Non-U.S. citizen pilots seeking FAA recurrent pilot training

The TSA requires flight schools to notify them that candidates have requested recurrent training. The following is the process for applicants to obtain TSA Category 4 approvals.

Process:

  1. Candidates will need to create an AFSP account at www.flightschoolcandidates.gov.
  2. Prior to Bombardier being able to submit the Category 4 training request the candidate must submit the same personal information online as training requests under Category 1-3
    1. Name, Citizenship, Document information, Addresses, Employment
  3. This must include uploaded copies of the Candidate's:
    1. Unexpired passport
    2. Current airman's certificate / license, both sides showing type rating(s)
  4. This change DOES NOT affect fingerprints.
    1. Category 4 training requests are still exempt from the fingerprint requirement.
  5. Candidates will select Bombardier as the Flight Training Provider
    1. The approvals will be specific to each training location. Bombardier Dallas or Bombardier Montreal is to be selected based upon the training center used.
    2. This will then give Bombardier access to submit a Category 4 request for the Candidate.
  6. Once Bombardier training receives the application from the TSA we will then:
    1. Confirm the applicant information
    2. Process the $70 Fee. This fee is non-refundable if training does not occur.
    3. Submit the Category 4 request
  7. The TSA approval process for Category 4 may take up to 5 business days.
  8. Upon approval, Bombardier will receive notification and training may commence.
  9. The approval is valid for any recurrent training in that type aircraft for 180 days.
  10. Bombardier will take a digital photo of the Candidate upon arrival for flight training, and upload a copy of the photo to TSA through the AFSP website.

TSA processes are subject to change without notice.

Bombardier will not be held responsible for delays in obtaining TSA approvals.

For any questions regard this process please contact:

Montreal Training Center

All Aircraft
Paola Di Bello
Documentation Coordinator, Customer Training
Tel.: +1 514 344 6621 x.68730
Email:

Dallas Training Center

Learjets Challengers
Kristina Stevenson
Documentation Coordinator, Customer Training
Tel.: +1 469 791 4273
Email:
Lannette Kelly
Documentation Coordinator, Customer Training
Tel.: +1 469 791 4287
Fax: +1 469 791 4272
Email:

 

Back to top