Question

Assume you are departing on February 15 for a flight that requires you to have a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. What is the lowest class of medical certification required, and what is the earliest date it could have been issued?

Answer 1

Answer:

The lowest class of medical certificate is second class issued February 1st. of the previous year.

Explanation: There are three classes of medical certifications for pilots; such certificates are required to legally exercise the privileges of a Pilot exercising the privileges of either a Private, Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot license. Each certificate must be issued by a doctor approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to a person of stable physical and mental health. The three classes are

1. Third Class Medical Certificate: are necessary to exercise the privileges of a Private pilot license or certificate, or any lower pilot certification level. A third-class medical expires after 60 calendar months for someone under the age of forty years.

2. Second Class Medical Certificate: are necessary to exercise the privileges of a Commercial pilot license or certificate. It expires after 12 calendar months regardless of the pilot's age.

3. First Class Medical Certificate: are necessary to exercise the privileges of an airline transport pilot license or certificate. It expires after 12 calendar months for a pilot under 40, 6 months for pilots over 40.