Washington, March 17 (NationPress) A prominent Republican senator has alerted US aviation security officials that American flight training centers are instructing Chinese nationals in ways that may unwittingly bolster Beijing's military objectives. Senator Jim Banks expressed his concerns in a letter to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), highlighting the potential national security risks involved, particularly in light of China’s policy of “Military-Civil Fusion (MCF),” which purposefully blurs the lines between military and civilian sectors.

He emphasized that this strategy has enabled Chinese companies, whether state-owned or privately operated, to gain considerable global market share in advanced sectors while enhancing the government's ability to mobilize national assets in emergencies and warfare.

Banks noted that the increasing demand for trained pilots in China is a significant factor contributing to this situation. By 2043, China is projected to need approximately 130,000 commercial and general aviation pilots. This demand extends to its military, which has accelerated training timelines and expanded recruitment efforts to fulfill the need, as stated in the senator's letter.

Investigative reports mentioned in the letter indicate that China requires about 5,000 pilot cadets annually, whereas its domestic training institutions can only produce around 1,200. Consequently, many Chinese trainees are seeking education at flight schools in the United States.

The senator pointed out specific instances, including the AeroGuard Flight Training Center in Arizona, which collaborates with Chinese-affiliated aviation organizations. Reports from Chinese state media suggest that nearly two-thirds of its student body comprises Chinese nationals. Another institution, the Sierra Academy of Aeronautics in California, reportedly trains hundreds of Chinese pilots each year.

An executive from Sierra Academy stated, “Sierra Academy has established connections with the Chinese government, institutions, and airlines, enabling us to successfully implement this program.”

Banks argued that even if a majority of these trainees aim for civilian careers, China's state-controlled model complicates the distinction between civilian and military outcomes. “The greater the number of Chinese individuals trained in aviation, the broader the recruitment options available to the Chinese military for pilots and instructors for its adverse objectives,” he remarked.

He urged the TSA to enhance its vetting procedures under the Flight Training Security Programme, which currently screens foreign applicants based on immigration records, watchlists, and criminal history. Banks asserted that the “scale of the threat posed by the CCP and other foreign adversaries clearly necessitates additional considerations.”

He called upon the agency to revise the program to prevent individuals from “foreign adversary nations, including China,” from getting access to US flight training.

“It is imperative that American flight training programs align with American interests—not with Xi Jinping’s aspirations,” he concluded.