FAA licence/medical question
 

My FAA licence is ATP and I fly Part 91. I'm over 40 and operate a 2 crew a/c over 12,500 lbs as PIC. I normally renew my Class 1 medical every six months, but.....

Question: If I let the medical run for 7 or 8 months, may I still operate on the basis that I will be using Commercial privileges as my medical will have dropped down to Class 2?

FAR's state:
(2) Must hold at least a second-class medical certificate when exercising the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate;

I assume that as my ATP certificate permits me to exercise the privelidges of a Commercial certificate, when my medical converts to Class 2 I am good to fly when only commercial certificate is required.

Am I correct?

Part 91
 

As long as you are flying part 91 you're goos to go..

I was under the impression from a recent chat, that you require an ATP to be PIC of a multi-engine turbine machine over 12,500lbs.

Also, check your insurance requirements for PIC, unless you are going to sit in the RHS.

Not true. The last FSI recurrent class (F900) I did had several people with a commercial and I think there was even one with a private license. This in the U.S. Insurance requirements are a different story.

Part 91 is like flying private, not for hire.
Relaxed rules, doubt a 1st Class is required unless yer boss or yer insurance requires it. The Feds don't really care as the ticket buying public is not involved.

Well Jimbo..........What do you reckon to that then??

The Class I medical every six months typically applies to Part 121 and 135 ops.

As previously mentioned, Part 91 is private ops requiring Commercial Certificate flying for hire, therefore Class II medical.

Bingo

That's not totally true. We are a part 91 (albeit w/135 and some 121 Ops manual) corporate department. We require ATP's for all of our pilots and therefor a class 1 medical. There are a lot of Part 91 corporates here in the U.S.

Well Jezza,

Lucky8888 makes an interesting point. Also OUR insurance requires Captains to hold an ATP, and therefore a Class 1.

But we also need the ATPs to satisfy the knowledge requirements for the upcoming quallies.

Jimbo

Ahaaaaaaah!
Makes sense.
Jez

This is a commonly misunderstood topic. The class of medical depends upon the "privileges" being exercised, not the certificate held.

E.g., a person holding a FAA ATP certificate can fly privately, without compensation, with a third class medical. Or fly for compensation or hire, part 91 and/or part 135, with a second class medical. The employer (part 91 or 135), contractor or insurance may request a first class medical -- and a college degree -- but that is not required by the FAR.

Cf. 61.23 and http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/faq/.

It is different in other countries and aviation rules.

@Avionimc: I took a look at the link you posted and dug further...and this is what I found.
It doesn't say what you stated, actually. It says that it's based on the certificate basically, when speaking about an ATP. I quote below:
§61.23 Medical certificates: Requirement and duration.

(1) Must hold a first-class medical certificate:
(i) When exercising the pilot-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate;.....


So stopped there. Doesn't say anything about Part 91...however does mention 121 ops.
So now I am thoroughly confused. My company is telling me it's only required every 12 months for flying the private owner around (part 91) but does it not require me (to be PIC) utilize my ATP to fly the GV type as PIC. I guess more digging required....



Anyone else can shed light on this??


eCFR ? Code of Federal Regulations

If you are flying Part 91, there is no need to have an the ATP and you are NOT exercising the PiC privileges of and ATP, just a Commercial AMEL, type rating. Having the ATP covers the IR requirement. If you are not bring, substitute private pilot certificate.

GF

Depends where you operate
 

Per my recent FSI International Procedures Recurrent.

Part 91 (and getting paid) in the USA a Commercial and a Class 2 is ok for the PIC

Outside the USA the PIC must have a valid Class 1 Medical.

Jimbo, Jezza et al (who's Al?)

In the FAA world the critical element is not the certificate (licence) held, but the operation. If the operation is Part 91, a 1st or 2nd class medical is appropriate if the pilot is gaining valuable consideration (doing it for dosh). If the pilot is flying for fun, then a class 3 is sufficient. The certificate (Private, Commercial or ATP) is irrelevant. To work for reward on a Part 91 op, the pilot MUST hold a Commercial or higher certificate, and a class 2 or higher medical.

In summary, a class 2 medical is fine for an ATP or Commercial holder on a Part 91 operation.

:ok:

Deefer Dog. You're correct. To earn money on a Part 91 operation you require a minimum of a Commercial certificate and a class 2 medical, which is what your class 1 medical reverts to.

GOOD TO GO

HS125. Ask your source at FSI to show you the FAR about extra USA ops.

(Hint.....it does NOT exist)

PSF2J. Were you talking to Donald Trump? What you were told was wrong. Don't rely on b/s from Trumpeters. Check the FARs

Lucky8888 and Jimbo. The requirement for an ATP does NOT dictate a class 1 medical. An ATP can fly with a class 3 if not earning money. A part 121 or 135 operation needs a class 1 (airline or air taxi, basically). Private ops (part 91) does NOT require a class 1.

I think they are covering themselves for FAR 91.703, some countries might interpret an operation with a turbojet as "commercial" even though private in essence, and a Class one is "matching" the licence held.

CL 300. That's a very good point. The FAA may not require anything beyond a class 2 but some administrations may do.

Winkwink:
I agree, there is no such FAR, I'm just sharing the info.

They said that there had been 'several SAFA groundings' including 'a Falcon in France.'

CL300:
I think that's also a very good take on the matter.

I was only speaking about our corporate requirements, not regulatory.

Ah right. Well, whatever you're doing.....enjoy it!

Thanks to all, but I've just renewed my medical now! :ok:

Ah well, it gave us all something to chat about.

I flew Pt 91 into Brazil recently and they required a Class 1 but also not within a month of renewal..

The point I was making 18months ago, was the fact that although the requirements said that only a Class 2 was needed, the aircraft insurance policy was clearly worded that the Commander needed to hold an ATP with Class 1 medical.

Best wishes, Jimbo

That's fair enough. The FARs do not mandate it.:)

:ok: The minefield of regs...:}

Jimbo

Absolutely. Be so nice if we could just get on and do it!

Flying N Reg on small planes... you can...But if you want to be paid for it , this is another story :-)

So then
I am over 40
Flying a T7 medium jet on a validation based on my FAA atp.
I sit left and right seat
I fly the owner only on part 91.
What applies to me

Thanks

From the FAA point of view, seat, certificate or anything else is irrelevant. If it's part 91 and someone is paying for your services as flight crew, you require at least a class 2 medical. If you're doing it for free, then just a class 3.

Actually, flying someone (the owner, etc.) "for free" requires a class 2 medical because the FAA would consider the flight time to be a form of compensation.

Thanks guys
So I do a class 1 annually then , it becomes a class 2 after 6 months, but I am still good to go until just before it becomes a class 3.
Cool
Thanks for the info

Absolutely.

KKoran. Good point. I suppose what I meant was that if you were employed as a marketing director at John Deere (just an example) and flew the company jet (Part 91) a class 3 would suffice.
If you just fly the jet, class 2 (even if you don't get any money).
Nothing easy, even in FAA. EASA..don't even start.