Do I need a first class medical?

Maximilian_Jenius

Maximilian_Jenius

Super User
For training? Earlier this week I inhaled some chemical fumes and had to go to our onsite mini ER hospital.

We have a full time doctor and nurse practitioner on staff during business hours. I checked out fine and they have no concerns for my health.

In the midst of the check up the doctor asked me what I was studying. I said I'm in school to be an airline pilot.

He stated that he does 2nd & 3rd class medicals. He said the corporate pilots that fly for our company don't need a 1st class medicals. That only airline pilots, and maybe military pilots require a 1st class.

He gave me his card and said he'd do it for free and charge the company lol!

So would you get a first class (and pay for it) if you don't need it just to train?
 
Take the second class (it's free!) whenever you really need the first class then you pay for it as you know it's only valid for 6 mo
 
Max... no... you certainly don't need a first class to train. So... if you want, just get the free 2nd class.

That said... it would be wise to go ahead and get a 1st class at some point before you "dive in" to your training. Especially if you are going the airline route. That way... you at least know you can hold a 1st Class... and that you wouldn't have wasted your money on Flight Training only to later on find out that you couldn't hold a 1st Class Medical.

Bob
 
First Class = ATP privileges

Second Class = Comm privileges

Third Class = PPL privileges

Remember you can allow a First class medical to Lapse into a 2nd class and then a first class medical. So if you got your Second class medical now you can use it for 3 years for a Private pilot.

I'd get the second class now for free, being a cheapskate that I am.
 
Maxie, you only need a Third till you take your commercial and actually you only need third untill you want to exercise commercial priviledges. I'm all about free!
 
I agree with Captain Bob. The standards are slightly different and one would hate to spend $60K and find out they do not qualify for a Class 1 medical. ASU requires a CLass 1 medical for all students entering their trianing program for this reason.
 
How often does a younger guy fail his initial first class medical. I'd consider myself very healthy, no heart problems (that I know of), don't smoke, and have never had any health issues. I did not get a first class medical, should I be genuinely concerned about not passing a first class?
 
My first two medicals were 1st classes, then my last was a second class. When I got my first medical, my instructor said exactly what Doc said. Make sure you can pass a 1st class, before you dive into becoming an airline pilot. Actually that reminds me that I need to get another second class since my current one reverts to a third the end of May.
 
H46Bubba said:
My first two medicals were 1st classes, then my last was a second class. When I got my first medical, my instructor said exactly what Doc said. Make sure you can pass a 1st class, before you dive into becoming an airline pilot. Actually that reminds me that I need to get another second class since my current one reverts to a third the end of May.
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I've never had anything but first classes. But working around all these chemcials and loud sounds in the machine shop, the doc and I have conferred so I probably should still see if I can hold a first class.

I think that I should still be able to.
 
The issues are primary visual. Distant vision for a Class 3 can be 20/40 corrected whereas it must be 20/20 corrected for a Class 1 or 2. The test for phorias is not performed at a Class 3 medical whereas it is at a Class 1 and 2. You cannot have more than 1 diopter of hyperphoria nor more tha 6 diopters of eso- or exo-phoria.

OSDA's are issued for the Class of the certificate. A SODA for a Class 3 will require a re-issuance for Class 1 certificate but a Class 1 SODA will be valid for a Class 2 or 3 certificate.
 
Maximillian_Jenius said:
He stated that he does 2nd & 3rd class medicals. He said the corporate pilots that fly for our company don't need a 1st class medicals. That only airline pilots, and maybe military pilots require a 1st class.
Click to expand...

Just to tack on one more bit of info--military pilots don't have to get FAA medicals at all if the only flying they are doing is military flying. We have our own system for medicals (which SHOULD carry over to FAA, but that's a topic for another thread!).

Now, if a military guy flies PPL, he needs an FAA Class III and if he flies as a CFI or other commercial flying, he needs a Class II.

Just to expand your "bucket o'knowledge!"
 
The only reason I didn't try for a 2nd or 3rd class medical is because I'd have to correct my vision.

No, thank you. 20/25 will do nicely for me!
 
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