Does a safety pilot need to have a medical?

[E_Dawg]

I ask because the instrument OEG says you do but a local DE says you don't.

91.109 says you need a safety pilot rated in category and class.

1.1 says 'crewmember' is someone who is assigned a duty during flight
and a 'flight crewmember' is a pilot, flight engineer, or navigator assigned a duty during flight

61.3 says you need a medical if you are a 'required pilot flight crewmember'

so... ???

 

[ready2fly]

I'm thinking that they do. But I could be wrong.

 

[rhs]

You have to have a medical to act as PIC. I guess if the SP is going to log it, they need a medical.

I don't see anything in the FARs but the Instrument Oral Exam Guide says you need one.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

[ QUOTE ]
I ask because the instrument OEG says you do but a local DE says you don't.

91.109 says you need a safety pilot rated in category and class.

1.1 says 'crewmember' is someone who is assigned a duty during flight
and a 'flight crewmember' is a pilot, flight engineer, or navigator assigned a duty during flight

61.3 says you need a medical if you are a 'required pilot flight crewmember'

so... ???

[/ QUOTE ]...so the DE is wrong and you are correct for =exactly= the reasons you said: A safety pilot (whether acting as PIC or not) is a required pilot crewmember and the regulation requires a required crewmember to have a medical.

 

[E_Dawg]

Yeah that makes sense... For the sake of argument, the safety pilot may not be a 'pilot flight crewmember', instead he might be just a crewmember and then he wouldn't need a medical.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

[ QUOTE ]
For the sake of argument, the safety pilot may not be a 'pilot flight crewmember', instead he might be just a crewmember and then he wouldn't need a medical.

[/ QUOTE ]It would be difficult to argue that.

First of all, 91.109(b) says
==============================
No person may operate a civil aircraft in simulated instrument flight unless -
(1) The other control seat is occupied by a safety pilot who possesses at least a private pilot certificate with category and class ratings appropriate to the aircraft being flown.
==============================

Second, the long-standing rules on safety pilots logging flight time presuppose that the safety pilot is a pilot.

Third, FAA Legal answered the safety pilot/pilot crewmember/medical certificate question almost 27 years ago.

 

[E_Dawg]

Yeah thanks as always for the info MLF... now the real question is do I try to argue this to the examiner

I'll probably just smile and nod

 

[Ralgha]

If you can't argue with your local DE, you don't know him/her well enough!

I argue with mine, we get along great.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

LOL! I agree with Ralgha completely.

The general rule is you can always argue with a DE, so long as it;s not =during= your or your student's checkride. Then, anything he says goes. But once the paperwork is in...