CFI Medical Certificate Question

ready2fly

ready2fly

Well-Known Member
If I'm reading FAR 61.23 (3)(iv), technically, you only need a Third Class Certificate if you want to instruct.

HOWEVER, according to FAR 61.23(2), you won't be able to exercise the privileges of your Commercial Certificate unless you obtain a Second Class.

[ QUOTE ]
<font color="blue">§ 61.23 Medical certificates: Requirement and duration.
(a) Operations requiring a medical certificate. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a person:

(1) Must hold a first-class medical certificate when exercising the privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate;

(2) Must hold at least a second-class medical certificate when exercising the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate or

(3) Must hold at least a third-class medical certificate— ;

(i) When exercising the privileges of a private pilot certificate;

(ii) When exercising the privileges of a recreational pilot certificate;

(iii) Except as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, when exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate;

;(iv) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate, ;except for a flight instructor certificate with a glider category rating, if the person is acting as the pilot in command or is serving as a required pilot flight crewmember;
</font>

[/ QUOTE ]
If you only want to instruct, and not exercise your Commercial Pilot privileges, you can just get a Third Class.

Is that about right?

I ask because a guy at my FBO was thinking about going to go get just a Third Class medical, but he's a Commercial-rated pilot who, like me, is also working on his CFI.

Personally, I have a First Class which I obtained on Tuesday, so .... NO, it's not me!!
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You're more or less reading it correctly.

Let's changing the highlighting in the final part of your quote from the reg, a CFI needs a third class medical

When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate ...if the person is acting as the pilot in command or is serving as a required pilot flight crewmember

A CFI doesn't need =any= medical certificate in order to teach. And only needs a 3rd class when the CFI is also acting as PIC or is a required crewmember.

=Any= pilot, CFI or not, needs a 2nd Class medical in order to exercise the p[rivilegs of a commercial pilot (flight for hire).

The third piece to the puzzle is that under long-standing FAA policy, a CFI giving flight instruction is not exercising "commercial privileges." The CFI is being paid for teaching not for "transporting persons or property for hire"
 
[ QUOTE ]
When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate ...if the person is acting as the pilot in command or is serving as a required pilot flight crewmember

A CFI doesn't need =any= medical certificate in order to teach. And only needs a 3rd class when the CFI is also acting as PIC or is a required crewmember.

=Any= pilot, CFI or not, needs a 2nd Class medical in order to exercise the p[rivilegs of a commercial pilot (flight for hire).


[/ QUOTE ]
That's exactly how I was reading it - you just "verbalized it" (typed it
wink.gif
) better than I.

Thanks MLF!!
 
But the problem with that is now your friend is closing himself off to other opportunities like ferrying aircraft and aerial photography and such.
 
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