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Aero-Tips 11.26.06
Here's a little addition to FAR Part
61, Pilot, Flight Instructors and Ground Instructors, that you may
not have noticed when it appeared in the last few years...
61.18 Security disqualification.
(a) Eligibility standard. No person is eligible to hold
a certificate, rating, or authorization issued under this part when
the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has notified the
FAA in writing that the person poses a security threat.
(b) Effect of the issuance by the TSA of an Initial
Notification of Threat Assessment.
- The FAA will hold in abeyance pending the outcome of the TSA's
final threat assessment review an application for any certificate,
rating, or authorization under this part by any person who has been
issued an Initial Notification of Threat Assessment by the
TSA.
- The FAA will suspend any certificate, rating, or authorization
issued under this part after the TSA issues to the holder an
Initial Notification of Threat Assessment.
(c) Effect of the issuance by the TSA of a Final
Notification of Threat Assessment.
- The FAA will deny an application for any certificate, rating,
or authorization under this part to any person who has been issued
a Final Notification of Threat Assessment.
- The FAA will revoke any certificate, rating, or authorization
issued under this part after the TSA has issued to the holder a
Final Notification of Threat Assessment.
We all know the very good reasons why the Federal government
wants to withhold pilot certificates and ratings from persons who
mean to do harm to others. Be aware, though, that persons have been
known to be identified as a "security threat" after a
misunderstanding leads to a heated exchange with airline personnel,
or has a few too many in business class and raises a scene onboard
in flight, or even if his or her name is similar to someone else on
the Federal watch list.
The key here is "issued an Initial Notification
of Threat Assessment [emphasis mine]. If you've received a letter
from the Feds saying you are being investigated as a possible
security threat, among many other problems in your life you won't
be able to complete a pilot certificate or rating, and any
certificate or rating you currently hold will be suspended pending
the outcome of any investigation. If the investigation goes bad
(for you, assuming it's a mistake) then any new certificate or
rating will be denied, and your existing certificates and ratings
revoked.
Aero-tip of the day: Stay on TSA's good side.
If you're even suspected of being a security threat, you are no
longer a pilot or a pilot-in-training until investigation clears
you.