In order to operate to/from College Park Airport, pilots must complete a multi-step vetting procedure. This process is required for all pilots wishing to fly into any of the three general aviation airports (CGS, VKX, W32) within the Flight Restricted Zone. The procedure is as follows:
1. Register and complete the online safety course, "Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)" at www.FAASafety.gov. This course is required for all pilots operating within 60 NM of Washington, DC.
2. Download and complete the MD-3 PIN Application Form found here: MD-3 PIN Application The form is in Adobe format and will allow you to fill it out prior to printing.
3. Maryland Three Procedures for documents
Please email the following documents to College Park Airport at cgs.security@pgparks.com and to the Maryland Three Program at mdthree@tsa.dhs.gov
- Maryland Three PIN application - TSA Form 418* (Signed)
- SFRA Training certificate
- FAA Airman certificate*
- FAA Medical certificate*
- One form of Government-issued picture identification; i.e., driver’s license
* *The address on the TSA Form 418, FAA Airman Certificate and FAA Medical certificate must match the address on your Government-issued picture identification.
Most requests submitted Monday – Friday (between 7:30am and 4:00pm EST) should be responded to within 48 hours. If your information is submitted after 4:00pm EST on Friday or over the weekend, you should receive a response within 48 hours from 7:30am EST on Monday.
Please contact CGS at 301.864.5844 to perform a Skype or facetime interview after documents have been sent to CGS and MD3 program.
4. Fingerprinting. The National Air Transportation Association Compliance Service (https://secure.natacs.aero/md3) handles the fingerprinting portion of the vetting process. Applicants are no longer restricted to getting fingerprints taken at Reagan National Airport (DCA). Applicants must get fingerprinted at any local law enforcement agency, or any NATACS collector. NATACS provides a locator for approved fingerprint collection agencies here: NATACS Fingerprint Locations
Prior to getting fingerprinted, applicants MUST FIRST obtain a login for NATACS. Applicants must then print out the NATACS fingerprinting form, which is then completed by whomever performs the actual fingerprinting. Further details located HERE
NATACS charges a fee of either $30.75 or $65.75 depending if using an outside agency or if using a NATACS collector to perform the Criminal History Records Check (CHRC). This fee could be separate from (or in addition to) any fees that various finger print collection sites may charge. Please see the further details link, provided by the TSA, in the above paragraph.
5. Submit completed PIN Application form Please contact our Ops Desk staff at College Park Airport at 301.864.5844 to complete your verification process.. In addition to collecting your PIN Application, we also need to get a copy of your pilot certificate and Government-issued photo ID for our files.
After completing the above outlined steps, your application will be forwarded to TSA for review and approval. The length of this phase varies in duration. We generally recommend applicants allow 3-4 weeks. Once the PIN is issued, the airport manager will provide the pilot their PIN via telephone.
6. Filing Procedures. Official Instructions for filing SFRA FRZ flight plans can be found HERE
7.Additional Info. Instructions for inbound/outbound procedures from CGS HERE
8.Noise abatement proceedures - - HERE
