Originally Posted by
awair
Not quite accurate:
The safety pilot must have a Private Certificate (with Category & Class). 91.109 (c) - a medical certificate is not mentioned.
Also the Safety Pilot might be the SIC, not necessarily the PIC.
This is how Instructors can fly without a medical certificate under FAA regulations.
The safety pilot is a required crew member and requires at least a Class III medical or Basic Med. If the safety pilot is flying under Basic Med he must be acting as PIC for at least the time the other crew member is under the hood.
Lots of on-line references support this, Here is one -
https://pilot-protection-services.ao...-safety-pilots