AFSP
Alien Flight Student Program
TSA program requiring non-U.S. citizens to receive security threat assessment approval before flight training.
The Alien Flight Student Program is administered by TSA under 49 CFR Part 1552. It requires flight training providers — schools, independent CFIs giving instruction for hire — to verify TSA approval before providing flight training to any non-U.S. citizen.
The regulation distinguishes between Category 1 (large aircraft or turbine) and Category 2 (most general aviation). Both require approval before training begins. The approval expires and must be renewed for continued training.
Failure to comply carries civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation. The TSA has prosecuted inadvertent cases. "We didn't know" is not a defense.
When it matters
Schools training students from China, India, South America, or Europe (regardless of visa status) must track AFSP per student. Permanent residents (green card holders) are not exempt.
In Aloft360
AFSP compliance guideRelated terms