TSA Clearance

[Apollo_Kid]

Hi all,

Does anyone know for sure for how long is TSA clearance valid for? I have got mine starting from September 2nd but did not start mine training in US still.:ugh:

Regards

[Dlunt125]

Yep, once clearance is given you must begin flight training within 180 days.

[ayush konisetty]

It is valid for how much time you have applied for, why dont you check out your application status at
https://www.flightschoolcandidates.gov/afsp2/afsp_login_servlet/submit_login_page.html

[selfin]

The TSA approval is not valid indefinitely. See Federal Register Vol. 69 No. 181 of Mon., Sept. 20th, 2004: 56324-56343 is made available directly by TSA here, http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/IFR_Alien_Pilot.pdf

The 180-day period is correct, and for Category 3 training, I believe the various rules in force do not actually require an approval to be in place prior to the commencement of training - §612 of Vision 100 (http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c108:H.R.2115:) "Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act" (HR 2115/108th) only requires flight schools to notify TSA when a candidate applies for flight training under category 3, in addition to providing the TSA with various pieces of information about that candidate.

This point is raised in the above Federal Register extract (56341, para. c.) although newer rules may have come into existence since that time and it has been several years since I researched the rules in depth! In any event the 180-day period is your window of opportunity to commence the approved training... after which a fresh application/fee must be submitted.

[SeattlePilot]

Be careful about 'not starting' training. I ran into several people who got into trouble for not showing up for training. Some flight schools they even report you to TSA/USCIS in a very nasty way that gets you red flagged.