Flight Training for Foreign Students (Non-US Citizens)

If you are a citizen of a country other than the USA, you can still learn to fly here.

Visas: Note that you may need an appropriate type of visa to enter the US. Our understanding is that if you plan to enter the US primarily for flight training, in a full time course of over 18 hrs per week, you will need a student (M-1) visa. We are currently a part 61 flight school, so we cannot issue this type of visa.

On the other hand, if your visit is mainly for tourism or business, and you’d like to take flight lessons part time (less than 18hrs per week), then you may not need a student visa and you may be able to enter with a tourist or business visa or on the visa waiver program. See the US Immigration web site and do check with your nearest US Consulate.

Trial lessons / Orientation and demo flights: If you just want to take an orientation flight or a trial lesson to see if you like it, no problem, you can just come and do it. Call us on (408) 320-9614 to book your flight.

If you have a pilot certificate from an ICAO country, including JAA: You can get a US Private Pilot Certificate based on your ICAO certificate. You will need to apply three months in advance. The Airmen Certification Branch, AFS-760 must have the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) verify the validity and currency of the foreign license and medical certificate or endorsement before you apply for an FAA certificate or authorization.  The processing of the Verification of Authenticity of Foreign License, Rating, and Medical Certification form takes approximately 45 to 90 days to complete.  NOTE: Do not schedule any travel and/or checkrides, etc until a valid Verification Letter has been obtained from AFS-760. For details see the FAA Web Page for converting a pilot license. After you receive your approval letter, make an appointment with the local Flight Safety District Office in San Jose.

If you already have a US pilot certificate: You can take lessons to improve your flying, or to add a tailwheel endorsement, or acrobatics. However if you wish to add an Instrument Rating or a Multi Engine rating then you will need to go through the TSA process. See below.

Non-US Citizens with no pilot certificate, or those wishing to add an instrument rating or multi-engine rating: You will need to go through the TSA Alien Flight Student Program background check. The process is fairly simple. Here is what you need to do:

To take regular flight training, foreign students must register with the Transportation Security Agency to be able to learn to fly with a US Flight School.

Click here for a guide to help you complete the process

1. Start an account on the TSA Alien Flight Student Program Web Site. You will need to create an account and the TSA will email you the user name and password.

2. Log in on the Flight School Candidates Web site fill in and submit an application. Follow the notes below:

Category: 3 (aircraft under 12,500 pounds)
Provider: AeroDynamic Aviation.
School Student Identification number: your first initial and last name – e.g. avasquez
Course Identification Number: 101 (Private Pilot) or 102 (Sport Pilot) or 103 (Instrument) or 104 (Multi-engine)
Course Name: Private Pilot or Sport Pilot or Instrument Rating or Multi-engine
Course Description: Private Pilot Training or Sport Pilot Training or Instrument Training or Multi-engine training
Rating Goal: Sport Pilot ASEL or Private Pilot ASEL or Instrument Rating or Multi-engine Commercial

Aircraft type is important! You can list multiple makes/models of aircraft if you want to fly more than one type during training. We recommend listing at least Cessna 172, 152, and 150 or Champion 7ECA, 7GCAA and 7KCAB. If you’re not sure, list them all. It can delay your training if you have to request another aircraft because you didn’t list it on your application.

Use: For Private Pilot training list at least one the following aircraft:

  • “Cessna 172” and/or
  • “Cessna 152” and/or
  • “Cessna 150” and/or
  • “Champion 7ECA” and/or
  • “Champion 7GCAA” and/or
  • “Champion 7KCAB” and/or
  • “Evektor SportStar”

For Sport Pilot training list “Evektor SportStar”

For Instrument Rating training list “Cessna 150, 152, 172 and 172RG”

For Commercial Pilot and/or CFI training list “Cessna 150, 152, 172 and 172 RG”(you can also list Champions if you would like tailwheel training as part of your Commercial certification)

For Multi-engine Rating training list “Piper Twin Comanche”

Start Date: Enter a date about 30 days from application
End Date: 1 year after your selected start date.

3. Review Application and Submit

4. We will receive a notification that you have aplied and confirm your application. The TSA will then send you a note to pay the Fee.

5. After you have paid, wait for email confirmation from TSA which includes your AFSP Training Request number and instructions for fingerprinting. Print the email.

6(a). If you are NOT in the Bay Area see the NATA Clearing House for TSA fingerprints Web Site to locate the nearest fingerprint office. Then follow the process below for your chosen site.

6(b). If you are already in the Bay Area
– There is an electronic fingerprinting office at San Francisco International Airport. Call to make an appointment
– OR Pre-enroll for fingerprinting at Nice Air in San Jose and pay fingerprinting fee. Print out confirmation.

Most larger police stations, FBI or CIA offices, and some embassies and consulates can also do the fingerprinting for you. Make sure you tell them it is for the TSA Alien Flight Student Program.

7. Call the selected office to:
– Schedule an appointment to submit fingerprints; Make sure to tell them it is for the TSA flight student program.
– Ask if the candidate must supply his/her fingerprint cards (2 cards are required) and pre-paid shipping envelope (traceable means only, such as FedEx, UPS Next Day, etc.); and
– Determine fingerprint collection fees and accepted payment methods.

8. Go to the office at the appointed time.

IMPORTANT: Have with you:
– A printed copy of TSA confirmation email;
– Your passport (if a non-resident alien), resident alien card, or U.S. driver’s license (if resident alien);
– If required by the fingerprint collection location, the candidate must also bring fingerprints cards (2 are required) and a pre-paid shipping envelope (traceable means only, such as FedEx, UPS Next Day, etc.)
– Payment.

9. The agent will submit your fingerprints to TSA. A candidate may NEVER BE IN POSSESSION OF HIS/HER FINGERPRINT CARDS AFTER BEING FINGERPRINTED.

10. When TSA receives your fingerprints, the AFSP will provide and email notification to you and to us, the Flight Training Provider. Call us after 7 days to check we have received notification of TSA’s fingerprint receipt. If we have not, please call TSA AFSP to follow up.

Prices and rates are subject to change without notice. All training and rentals are subject to the terms and conditions in the Renter’s Agreement. Minimum 24 hours’ notice required for cancellation or you may be charged for the rental time.

C Flight training, california, pilot, monterey, san jose, salinas, private pilot, tailwheelome fly with us in the beautiful San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas of California. Our flight school facilities are located at Reid Hillview airport in San Jose (KRHV), at the south end of San Francisco Bay, Salinas Municipal Airport (KSNS), and Monterey Regional Airport (KMRY). We offer ground and flight training for sport pilot, private pilot, instrument rating, commercial pilot, multi-engine, ATP, CFI, tailwheel, aerobatics, and mountain flying.

Ready to schedule a flight? Have a question? Give us a call!

San Jose (408) 320-9614

Monterey/Salinas (831) 373-8320

You can also reach us via email with our Contact Form