On your first official lesson, your primary instructor will complete these tasks at KC Aero Academy. Please remember to bring your documents with you to your first lesson.  

1. Determine Applicability. The requirements for determining citizenship status for any student, whether U.S. or alien, apply only to flight training toward a recreational pilot, sport pilot, or private pilot certificate, instrument rating, or multiengine rating.
2. Proof of Citizenship. Evidence of U.S. citizenship must be shown by ONE of the following:
   • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport.
   • Original birth certificate of the United States, American Samoa, or Swains Island, and government-issued photo ID.
   • Original certification of birth abroad with raised seal (Form FS-545 or DS-1350) and government-issued photo ID.
   • Original certificate of U.S. citizenship with raised seal (Form N-560 or N-561), or a Certificate of Repatriation (Form N-581), and government-issued photo ID.
   • Original U.S. Naturalization Certificate with raised seal (Form N-550 or N-570) and a government-issued photo ID.
3. Logbook or Record-keeping Requirements. An instructor must keep a copy of the documents for five years that are used to prove citizenship or make an endorsement in both the instructor’s logbook, or other record used by the instructor to record flight student endorsements, and the student’s logbook with the following: “I certify that [insert student’s name] has presented me a [insert type of document presented, such as a U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport, and the relevant control or sequential number on the document, if any] establishing that [he or she] is a U.S. citizen or national in accordance with 49 CFR 1552.3(h). [Insert date and instructor’s signature and CFI number.]”

A candidate is anyone applying for flight training who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a foreign military
pilot endorsed by the Department of Defense (DoD endorsee). (§ 1552.3)

To qualify for flight training, a candidate must hold a valid Determination of Eligibility from TSA.
(§ 1552.31)
To obtain a TSA Determination of Eligibility for up to five years, a candidate must undergo a security
threat assessment (STA). To do so, the candidate must:

• Establish an account on the FTSP Portal (§ 1552.17)
• Apply through the portal for a STA (§ 1552.31)
• Pay a one-time fee through Pay.gov (§ 1552.39); and
• When prompted by TSA, submit fingerprints through a designated vendor (§ 1552.31).

The STA checks against terrorism watchlists, a fingerprint-based background check (Rap Back) for
disqualifying criminal offenses, and an immigration check that verifies whether the candidate is
lawfully present in the United States.

A Determination of Eligibility allows the candidate to train for the duration of that Determination, up
to five years. A candidate with a valid Determination of Eligibility must choose flight training

FTSP is the TSA program set up to manage compliance with the flight training security
regulation (49 CFR part 1552).

The regulation is intended to ensure that persons seeking flight training who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals (defined as “candidates”) do not pose a threat to aviation or national security.

Candidates must undergo a security threat assessment (STA) and receive a Determination of Eligibility before they may train.

Flight training providers operating in the United States and providers regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that are located abroad must register with FTSP and must notify TSA when candidates request flight training. Providers also must comply with several other security-related requirements. See About the Regulation for more information.

Review the User Guide for detailed information.

We're here to help you at every stage of your T.S.A. application process. Here's an overview: 

All non-U.S. citizens receiving flight training toward a Private Pilot License, an Instrument Rating, or a Multiengine Rating in the U.S. must obtain approval from the T.S.A. prior to beginning flight lessons in an aircraft. This process must be started immediately because it may take as long as four weeks to complete.

Candidate Process

If you are a candidate, the process is:

1. Review the Candidate Guide!
2. Register with FTSP. Register a candidate account on the portal.
3. Apply for a security threat assessment (STA). Complete the STA application.
4. Pay the fee. Follow the directions on the portal to pay using Pay.gov.
5. Get fingerprinted. When you receive fingerprinting instructions in an email from TSA, follow the directions to be fingerprinted. The TSA-approved fingerprint collector will collect and submit your fingerprints. Bring the email with you to the collector.
6. Wait for your Determination of Eligibility notification. After your fingerprints are accepted, the TSA will conduct the STA. If you receive a Determination of Eligibility, you will be notified by email. This allows you to select a provider and train for up to five (5) years as long as your identity documents have not expired and you are legally present in the United States.
7. Select a provider. (KC Aero Academy) When you receive your Determination of Eligibility, you must select a flight training provider or providers through this portal.
8. TSA will notify the provider or providers that you selected them. After you select the provider, work directly with them, not through the portal.
9. Keep your information up to date. Keep your account information current. TSA conducts continuous vetting of persons who receive a Determination of Eligibility.
10. Your Determination could be canceled or suspended if your personal information in the FTSP portal becomes inaccurate.
11. See How and When Do I Update My Account?

All arrangements for training are made between you and the provider. The provider will notify TSA about your training.

Please have a look at the Candidate Guide for detailed information and instructions.