Modern humans take many things for granted. For example, we assume that if we take a flight, we will arrive safely at our destination. However, to achieve this level of peace of mind and air safety, there are many safety protocols behind the scenes that must be carried out by hundreds or even thousands of people. The predictability of these protocols is what keeps us safe and ensures that everything runs (or flies) smoothly.
Behind every boarding gate and baggage check, there are hundreds of protocols in place to ensure that our flights and airports are safe. To this end, there are many requirements that ensure that only legally responsible individuals can take command of an aircraft. This initial training is a critical point in the security chain. This is where the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Flight Training Security Program (FTSP) comes into play.
Being an airplane pilot is more than just wearing a smart uniform and being surrounded by attractive flight attendants. This security program acts as a national security filter applied to all aspiring pilots. It was created shortly after the September 11 attacks with the aim of ensuring that anyone receiving flight training does not pose a threat to national aviation.
The FTSP: searching for the best U.S. pilots
Finally, the 2004 rule focused almost exclusively on verifying the background of non-U.S. citizens, which is why it was nicknamed the “Alien Flight Student Program.” The New Final Rule of 2024 broadens that spectrum. Now, the FTSP is a general program that regulates all “Flight Training Providers”… that is, all major flight schools.
It targets airline training centers and even includes FAA-certified individual flight instructors (CFIs). If you have an instructor certificate and train someone, you are a regulated provider, period.
The FTSP covers any type of instruction given in an O simulator to obtain a new certified skill or rating. It ranges from a private pilot license to an instrument rating. This globalization attempts to ensure that the training phases are safe.
As with everything, there are logical exclusions for the general public. The program does not apply to balloon training, gliders, ultralight aircraft, or drones. In addition, purely theoretical training, flight demonstrations for marketing purposes only, and training simulators such as video games that are not intended to mimic real life are obviously outside the scope of the regulation.
Direct Security Impact on US Pilots
In the past, a CFI who only trained US students hardly felt the presence of the FTSP. Now, US citizen students still do not need a security threat assessment, but their instructor and provider are affected by the new administrative obligations. In other words, the TSA is standardizing security at the certificate and license provider level.
The new administrative responsibilities for U.S. citizen Certified Flight Instructors (CFIs) are clear and mandatory: every provider must register and maintain an active account on the TSA’s FTSP portal. Each provider must appoint a primary contact person with the TSA for intelligence and security matters (in the case of independent CFIs, this person may be the CFI themselves). This designation is mandatory for all providers, without exception.
In addition, instructors must continue to verify the citizenship of their US students with official documents. They must keep these records for at least five years. This ensures that, in the event of an audit, the instructor can demonstrate compliance with the law. However, the safety awareness training requirement for employees who have direct contact with students is now biannual. Previously, this process was annual. The change in frequency reduces the administrative burden and aligns with the flight instructor certificate renewal cycle. It is one of the few things that has been streamlined.
While this may seem very cumbersome to people who do not fly or teach flying, the FTSP update is a firm step by the PSA toward modernizing and standardizing civil aviation safety.