Flying with copy of medical certificate

Z

zachoe

Well-Known Member
I'm out of town for a while, and I left a good portion of my flying stuff at home--medical certificate included. I do, however, have access to a scanned copy of my medical which I could print out and use to fly with while I'm here. I see nothing in the regs that would prohibit my using this in lieu of my original medical certificate...but I just wanted to double check and get a second opinion. Thoughts?
 
Well, 61.3 says "a person may not act as PIC...unless that person has a current and appropriate medical certificate that has been issued under part 67 of this chapter, or other documentation acceptable to the Administrator, which is in that person's physical possession or readily accessible in the aircraft."

Obviously the photocopy wasn't issued under part 67, so do you want to take the chance that it's considered acceptable documentation? I wouldn't. I'm sure there's a case file out there somewhere on this exact topic, though.
 
The odds of it becoming an issue are miniscule, but ………….

If you are near a fax machine and want to avoid any chance of a problem, here is what the FAA says about obtaining a replacement medical certificate:

I lost my medical certificate; how can I obtain a copy?
Click to expand...
You should submit AC Form 8060-56 (PDF) to:

FAA
Aerospace Medical Certification Division, AAM-331
ATTN: Duplicate Desk
Post Office Box 26200
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125

You must include a check or money order for $2.00 made payable to the FAA. The Aerospace Medical Certification Division can fax you a record of your certificate that is valid for no more than 60 days, which should be enough time to receive your replacement certificate. To receive this fax and order a duplicate certificate, call 405-954-7674 to reach the duplicate certificate desk.
Click to expand...
 
I'd suspect you'd be ok, but for $2 it would be silly to not just have them fax you another copy to be legit. They may end up telling you that your OK anyway.
 
Thanks. I guess I'll go ahead and contact the FAA to request a replacement...although I'm confident that, by the time it arrives, I'll be back in town with my original medical in hand :rolleyes:
 
I'm thinking you should make a photocopy of your drivers license, do a minor traffic infraction, hand the photocopy to the police officer and see how that works out. If it doesn't, try bribing him with a photocopy of a $20 bill.

It's an official document.
 
You can go to faa.gov and request an authorization that gets emailed to you in less than 5 minutes that you can print out and use.

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/airmen_services/

Login to:

Change your address
Order a replacement certificate
Remove SSN as certificate number
Request temporary authority to exercise certificate priviledges
Request verification of certificate priviledges
Get notices of FAA safety meetings via email.
 
When you take the medical (faa medical) outside the us, it's a photocopy, i did all my medicals in europe, the only time I got the actual copy was when it was also the student license, after that they always kept the original and gave me a copy.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
I'm thinking you should make a photocopy of your drivers license, do a minor traffic infraction, hand the photocopy to the police officer and see how that works out. If it doesn't, try bribing him with a photocopy of a $20 bill.
Click to expand...

I apologize in advance for going off topic for a moment, but this reminds me of my days working in a liquor store in New Jersey. This guy comes up to the counter with a couple six packs of Ortliebs (their slogan was "Try Joe's Beer!") It was truly vile stuff - cost about $1.29 for the six if I remember right...it was about 1989, but still! I don't even know if it's still brewed. Anyway, the guy trying to buy the stuff looks all of about 16, so I card him. With a straight face, he produces a laminated photocopy of his driver's license. :rotfl:I gave him credit for unique style, but he still got pretty indignant about having to leave without the beer! Still cracks me up to this day.

Thread relevance: Even a laminated photocopy is likely to raise eyebrows during a ramp check :)
 
A little off topic... I haven't been pulled over for a traffic violation for about 9 years, but one time I didn't have my license on me. I did know my DL ID# though. The officer wrote it down and after returning from his car gave me a warning. :nanner thingy:



Thanks Mojo, good info!

You can go to faa.gov and request an authorization that gets emailed to you in less than 5 minutes that you can print out and use.

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific...rmen_services/

Login to:

Change your address
Order a replacement certificate
Remove SSN as certificate number
Request temporary authority to exercise certificate priviledges
Request verification of certificate priviledges
Get notices of FAA safety meetings via email.
Click to expand...
 
AP2B said:
A little off topic... I haven't been pulled over for a traffic violation for about 9 years, but one time I didn't have my license on me. I did know my DL ID# though. The officer wrote it down and after returning from his car gave me a warning. :nanner thingy:
Click to expand...
Absolutely. Unintentional error or your part, nice officer who decided not to bother with either the violation he stopped you for or the lack of license in your possession.

Even in the photocopy situation, practically speaking, it's going to depend a lot on the situation. Make yours a stop for reckless driving with a cop who had to chase you a little after a bad day and the lack of license will probably get charged as a minor failure to have in possession. Make it a photocopy of a license being passed of as an original and there might be a felony charge for forgery.

Practically speaking, the same is probably true with the photocopy of the medical. Of course, since replacing it legitimately is so easy and the most likely reason to get checked is an accident...

One thing I didn't see raised. zachoe, what are you planning on flying while you are away? If renting from an FBO, the ones I've dealt with migh be put off by that photocopy (if they happen to notice what it is).
 
AirmetTango said:
I apologize in advance for going off topic for a moment, but this reminds me of my days working in a liquor store in New Jersey. This guy comes up to the counter with a couple six packs of Ortliebs (their slogan was "Try Joe's Beer!") It was truly vile stuff - cost about $1.29 for the six if I remember right...it was about 1989, but still! I don't even know if it's still brewed. Anyway, the guy trying to buy the stuff looks all of about 16, so I card him. With a straight face, he produces a laminated photocopy of his driver's license. :rotfl:I gave him credit for unique style, but he still got pretty indignant about having to leave without the beer! Still cracks me up to this day.

Thread relevance: Even a laminated photocopy is likely to raise eyebrows during a ramp check :)
Click to expand...

I wish I had a copy of it to include, but some time back I saw a picture of a fake driver's license. It was a pretty good fake except for one thing. The picture of the guy was one with him and his girl friend together.
 
mojo6911 said:
You can go to faa.gov and request an authorization that gets emailed to you in less than 5 minutes that you can print out and use.

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/airmen_services/

Login to:

Change your address
Order a replacement certificate
Remove SSN as certificate number
Request temporary authority to exercise certificate priviledges
Request verification of certificate priviledges
Get notices of FAA safety meetings via email.
Click to expand...

Thanks much mojo6911. I didn't know that was possible. That's great information to store away for future use.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
I'm thinking you should make a photocopy of your drivers license, do a minor traffic infraction, hand the photocopy to the police officer and see how that works out. If it doesn't, try bribing him with a photocopy of a $20 bill.

It's an official document.
Click to expand...


And then, if he has a sense of humor, he will show you a photocopy of handcuffs... :laff:
 
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