The Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP; designation no longer used since January 26, 2022) or Flight Training Security Program (FTSP; current designation after January 26, 2022) is a program operated by the United States Transportation Security Administration to screen prospective flight student candidates who are not citizens of the United States, before they are allowed to undergo pilot training.
This program was created in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, in recognition of the fact that the individuals who piloted the hijacked aircraft first learned to fly at US flight schools.
On September 20, 2004, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued an interim final rule establishing the Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP).
Persons seeking flight training must submit a request if they are not citizens or nationals of the U.S. and: (NOTE-Certain exemptions to AFSP published in 2004 and 2005 are still in effect.)
After consultation with the pilot community, the TSA issued clarifications restricting the scope of the program: for example, in small airplanes, it only applies to pilots undergoing training for an initial certificate, a multi-engine rating, or an instrument rating[1].