Bill would revise training security rules

Legislation has been introduced that would exempt foreign-national commercial pilots from the current 45-day background check requirement to obtain flight training in the U.S. The bill, introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), would also require all foreign initial student pilots to comply with the background checks before starting training in the U.S., regardless of the size of aircraft involved. Currently, the background check is not required for training in the U.S. in aircraft with mtows of less than 12,500 lb.