Flight Instructors: New TSA requirements for Flight Training

[SJ]

The FAA is requiring a "Flight School Security Awareness Training" class be taken by flight school employees. Now as usual, they don't say 141 or 61 so it means everybody, however, they do say "employees". I'm not an employee at the flight school I work out of, I am a contractor... So we will be watching for more info. Maybe some of our FAA members can help us out here?

Here is the info:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/display?co...000519800d11d8

sj

[MarcR]

Steve,
My impression was that we do need the training. Here's what I got from the AOPA website:

This definition includes an independent or solo flight instructor certificated under 14 CFR part 61. Thus, an independent or solo flight instructor, who would be considered a "flight school" under the definition of that term in Sec. 1552.1(b), must receive security awareness training in accordance with this subpart

.

Here's a link to the page:
http://www.aopa.org/tsa_rule/#awareness_documentation

The way I read it, each free lance instructor is a "flight school" in the TSA's( I won't say what I think that stands for! They might be watching ) eyes. Not sure what that will mean for the recurrent training required in a year, but they do at least have an online deal for the initial training.

Marc

[SJ]

Figgers. I planned to take the test anyway. It was bad enough when I had to ask a decorated Vietnam veteran to show me his birth certificate the other day so I could endorse his logbook that he was a US citizen before we got into an airplane together.

sj

[Cimarron]

I'm not sure just your certification that you saw legal documentation is enough. Photocopy any documents shown to you. You aren't required to be an expert on weather a document is forged but Homeland Security can still go after you if they find a ringer

CYA

[MarcR]

The AOPA website says you have the option of either an endorsement( copies in the student's logbook and yours ), or keeping copies of the documents for 5 years. I looked, and couldn't find anything from the TSA mentioning the logbook endorsement. I've sent an email to AOPA asking about it. I'll pass on whatever I learn.

Marc

[glassjet]

I get 4 hours a year of TSA security training at my day job... wonder if that would suffice?

[Jacob Papp]

I wonder if the FAA will discuss this topic in there Wings Seminar Series?

Jake

[SJ]

Actually, I asked the head of our local FSDO and he said it was strictly a TSA issue, the FAA had no guidance.

sj

[MarcR]

I got a reply from AOPA. The TSA has issued an exemption to the requirement to keep id copies for 5 years, allowing the log book endorsement instead. Here's a link to the document:
http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...tsa_notice.pdf

[SJ]

Soooo, if I am reading that right, I did NOT have get the passport/birth certificate for the Wings training I did the other day, or the BFR, or the taildragger endorsement, but still need to do it on private applicants.

Thanks for the info, Marc!

sj

[MarcR]

Wellll, maybe. There's a bit of a gray area. In one part it states that the id check is only required if the training would lead to a new certificate or type rating. So by that definition, you'd be right. On the other hand, in another part, it justifies not requiring the id check for other training because that training doesn't enable the student to fly additional aircraft. A taildragger endorsement does allow you to fly additional aircraft! And lets not even get into all the endorsements for additional aircraft for Sport Pilots!.

Here's another twist. Suppose someone comes to you for an instrument rating. You check his id, and make the appropriate logbook endorsement. 4 months later, he passes the instrument checkride. Then, 3 months after that, he comes to me to work on his commercial certificate. When I ask him for his id, he tells me you checked it a few months ago, and shows me the endorsement. Do I need to see the id, and endorse the logbook as well? Strictly speaking, yes, but, whats the point???

Don't ya just love it!

Marc

[SJ]

Here's another twist. Suppose someone comes to you for an instrument rating. You check his id, and make the appropriate logbook endorsement. 4 months later, he passes the instrument checkride. Then, 3 months after that, he comes to me to work on his commercial certificate. When I ask him for his id, he tells me you checked it a few months ago, and shows me the endorsement. Do I need to see the id, and endorse the logbook as well? Strictly speaking, yes, but, whats the point???

Marc

I think then you have to check MY id....

[MarcR]

I think then you have to check MY id....

Nope. It doesn't say anywhere that the flight instructor checking the id has to be a US Citizen.

I think we should just stop looking at this. I'm concerned that, if I look at it long enough, it might start to make sense!

Then they'd have to lock me away!

Marc

[Alex Clark]

I took their little course and typed my own name of the cert. But how the heck do they know I took it. I did not have to register or anything like that...

[mvivion]

Alex,

No, but having read the small print, I figure this now deputizes all of us as TSA lackeys for airport security, and we can now all carry loaded firearms, and the ultimate weapon, a nail clipper with a file on it, and check ID's at the airport.

Lock and Load, Dudes!!!