Dozens of Foreign Pilots Training Illegally at US Flight Schools

ABC.COM ^

[Sub-Driver]

Dozens of Foreign Pilots Training Illegally at US Flight Schools

September 25, 2006 1:09 PM

Brian Ross and Eric Longabardi Report:

Apg_plane_060925_nr_1Dozens of foreign student pilots with questionable visas have been able to slip between the cracks and gain entry to American flight schools, federal officials tell ABC News.

The FAA says it is conducting an investigation of a number of flight instructors and schools, including one school which was attended by 9-ll hijackers Mohammed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi.

An internal Homeland Security document obtained by ABC News, says the post 9-11 program to prevent terrorists from entering US flight schools has been marked by "confusion and misinterpretations."

Under the program, no foreign national can receive flight training in the United States without approval from the Transportation Security Administration.

In a July, 2006 memo, the TSA complains the program has been flawed because other agencies, including the Department of State, have provided "conflicting and ambiguous" information about whether applicants had valid visas for flight training.

[little jeremiah]

Please post the info and ping me.

[Txsleuth]

Will DO!

[Txsleuth]

Hi...I tried to get ahold of my son...but he is on a week long training flight. (some of the students want to get all of their flight hours done FAST..so they fly to Nevada, California, and Arizona for a week).

I will get ahold of him when he gets back next week.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks. I bet even if there aren't any where he is, he'll likely hear stuff from others in the field.

[Velveeta]

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