TSA approval

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flyinghigh007

Well-Known Member
I recently interviewed with an airline. The interview itself all went really well and I got a call back about 2 weeks later asking about my right to work in the US as I am not a citizen. So I explained to the person who called that I have a green card and the right to work in the US. I got the feeling that he wanted me for the job, up until he realized that since I'm not a US citizen I need TSA approval to begin training on their aircraft. I've since sent several emails to HR saying that I would really love to come work for them and that I have looked into the TSA approval and have already begun the registration process, however it seems that this situation has caused them to lose interest and move on to other candidates that do not have to deal with this.

My question is: Has anyone else experienced this situation, and if so, any suggestions on the best way is to approach this?
 
Now thats BS. I would contact an attourney, and see what your options are. Either to go after the company, or the TSA. Only because you may have just lost a job because you would have to get approval from the TSA to start working for this company, and most companies will treat you the same likely.


Complete BS, and shoulden't be tolerated.
 
mshunter said:
Now thats BS. I would contact an attourney, and see what your options are. Either to go after the company, or the TSA. Only because you may have just lost a job because you would have to get approval from the TSA to start working for this company, and most companies will treat you the same likely.


Complete BS, and shoulden't be tolerated.
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I'm sorry, have to disagree. Its not complete BS and its been the law for what, 6 or 7 years now. Suggesting that he sue company for following the law concerning resident aliens and authorization to be in the front seat of an airliner? Thats BS.

Bottom line is that non-citizens need TSA approval regardless of your "green card"/permanent resident status. While it sucks that the OP is finding obstacles to his employment he was interviewing at an airline which to mean says he has been in the game for a while now. I'm kinda surprised he wasn't aware of these sweeping sea changes back in 2004 when they started to take place.

I'd suggest he investigate further what he can do to alleviate any concerns that a company may have about hiring them, usually they aren't very educated about this stuff beyond thinking that its probobly a hassle. Hopefully it isn't and he can get past this but it was put in place for a very good reason.
 
vikingair said:
I'm sorry, have to disagree. Its not complete BS and its been the law for what, 6 or 7 years now. Suggesting that he sue company for following the law concerning resident aliens and authorization to be in the front seat of an airliner? Thats BS.

Bottom line is that non-citizens need TSA approval regardless of your "green card"/permanent resident status. While it sucks that the OP is finding obstacles to his employment he was interviewing at an airline which to mean says he has been in the game for a while now. I'm kinda surprised he wasn't aware of these sweeping sea changes back in 2004 when they started to take place.

I'd suggest he investigate further what he can do to alleviate any concerns that a company may have about hiring them, usually they aren't very educated about this stuff beyond thinking that its probably a hassle. Hopefully it isn't and he can get past this but it was put in place for a very good reason.
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And the TSA is an over bearing, knee jerk reaction to 9/11. If someone has all the certificates, minus the type rating to get a job, and hits a snag because he needs TSA approval to a type, to get a job, and that causes him to be over looked because the company doesn't want to go through the hassle, yes, the system is broken.

It's in place to keep terrorists from being taught how to fly, not legal residents from getting jobs. And that might be whats it's done here.
 
mshunter said:
And the TSA is an over bearing, knee jerk reaction to 9/11. If someone has all the certificates, minus the type rating to get a job, and hits a snag because he needs TSA approval to a type, to get a job, and that causes him to be over looked because the company doesn't want to go through the hassle, yes, the system is broken.
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then they will find some other reason not to hire him.
 
Give the company a little more time to get back to you. If they completely blow you off, ask yourself how well you're going to get treated after you start working for them. Trust me, an airline job is a cool thing, but working for a company that treats you like a 2nd grader will get old very very fast...
 
vikingair said:
but it was put in place for a very good reason.
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Really? Because it was legally employed pilots that put the airliners into the buildings? Same reason we have CASS? Because jumpseaters caused 4 airliners to crash on 9-11...

I'm sorry, but no. It's just incompetent legislation.
 
flyinghigh007 said:
I recently interviewed with an airline. The interview itself all went really well and I got a call back about 2 weeks later asking about my right to work in the US as I am not a citizen. So I explained to the person who called that I have a green card and the right to work in the US. I got the feeling that he wanted me for the job, up until he realized that since I'm not a US citizen I need TSA approval to begin training on their aircraft. I've since sent several emails to HR saying that I would really love to come work for them and that I have looked into the TSA approval and have already begun the registration process, however it seems that this situation has caused them to lose interest and move on to other candidates that do not have to deal with this.

My question is: Has anyone else experienced this situation, and if so, any suggestions on the best way is to approach this?
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You need a passport to operate properly. Not having one makes it very hard not only on your airline if you fly international but on YOU because you will need the passport. You're probably going to be limited to applying to airlines that only fly domestic. You also need the passport to commute, at least if you're CASS
 
Socal321 said:
You need a passport to operate properly. Not having one makes it very hard not only on your airline if you fly international but on YOU because you will need the passport.
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You could still have a passprt, just not a US one, and fly for a US airline.
 
cencal83406 said:
Really? Because it was legally employed pilots that put the airliners into the buildings? Same reason we have CASS? Because jumpseaters caused 4 airliners to crash on 9-11...

I'm sorry, but no. It's just incompetent legislation.
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Oh thanks..I wasn't aware of that. :rolleyes:

I do know there were 1.1 million new resident aliens accepted in the US during 2009. While legal and illegal immigration remains a contentious issue, that number solidifies the idea that we are truly a melting pot and that the promise of the American dream is alive and well even if you were born in another country. Off the top of my head I know 4. One of them was at a 121 carrier so obviously its possible.

I couldn't tell you how the USCIS performs its background and vetting process or what might differ for TSA flight training authorization. One would hope both would have access to the same info but its a safe bet that theres less open sharing of data and crosstalk between agencies than we'd like to think. Sadly the real world doesn't operate like CTU on 24.

Again I'll reiterate that its an unfortunate circumstance the OP is in and I hope its resolved expeditiously. But having the right to work as an alien is no more permission to climb into the cockpit than wearing a flag pin on a lapel qualifies one for a security clearance. Yes, he has all the FAA certificates (I would assume up to CMEL,probably done in a PA-44). As do about 80,000 other non citizen pilots. 12 of Bin Ladens brothers have FAA certs. There was 13 but Bakr bin Laden's cert was revoked due to security concerns.

The TSA sucks but a flawed security apparatus is better than none.
 
cencal83406 said:
Any stats on how many non-citizens are pilots at US airlines?

I personally know of at least one... so it's not a deal breaker.
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We've got quite a few--I think the number is over 100. They (and the company) do have to jump through some hoops that US citizens don't and there is definitely a cost associated with it.

I'd be interested to know the legality of not hiring someone who has the legal right to work in the US based on their nationality. I'd definitely talk to a lawyer about it.
 
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