mutt
The first link that you provided is a secure server, could you please give me a gist of what it says.
It's a US government web site which allows individuals to register and provide identifying information so they can be 'checked out' by the US Department of Justice prior to flight training. There is a lot of stuff on there, I'd recommend you find a browser which allows you to look at secure pages, or maybe the moderators will copy and paste all the pages (esp the FAQ), but the home page starts..
Under new US legislation, foreign students wanting to attend a US flight training program must fill out a Department of Justice Flight Training Candidate Checks Program form before they will be allowed to begin instruction. In order to complete this process and begin your training, you must complete all of the following steps:
Anyway, if you look at the 'over 12500lb' regulation I cited, I think it makes reference to development of a web interface for the neccesary approval to train on larger machines.
I suspect this beta web site is for that purpose. If/when laws/regulations are enacted which require checks to be made on pilots requesting training on airplanes of <12500lbs, I assume this web site would be used.
I have yet to find any US legislation requiring checks to be made on individuals who want to train on airplanes of less than 12500 lbs. Michigan has passed such a law, but that's a mere state. It is interesting to me at least, that the US Congress passed a law requiring checks to be made on training programs on airplanes , but specifically said it was for airplanes of over 12500lbs. If there is an intent to check up the trainee C172 pilot, then it doesn't appear to come from the US Congress
Maybe it will later, but for now it's just all rumour, IMO.
The second one was extremely interesting, but its slightly OTT and will result in an immense loss of earnings to US based flight training establishments.
My opinion is that it isn't OTT when you remember what happened on 11th September. The USA is rife with background checks, usually for far less significant jobs than an airline pilot, so to background check somebody to learn to fly a 737 on a sim is reasonable, IMO.
I also don't think there will be an immense loss of earnings for any type of flight school. The USA is the epitomy of efficiency when it comes to making money. You can assume that the current administration, although they are concerned about people learning to fly small planes, are more concerned about the ability of a flight school to make a buck so they can tax it
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The US government will not prevent the influx of foreign money, in fact the web site shows they are making it easy for people to be approved. At the end of the day, even with this added inconvenience, people will look at the pros and cons, and still come in droves to America from Europe to learn to fly.