Student Pilot Certificate Duration

[Mike H]

A thread about the 5 year class 3 medical in the medical forum got me thinking: Since the Student Pilot Certificate is also the medical certificate, does that now extend the Student Pilot Certificate to 5 years?

And how about those that hadn't expired before the rule changed- do they get automatically extended?

 

[msmspilot]

A thread about the 5 year class 3 medical in the medical forum got me thinking: Since the Student Pilot Certificate is also the medical certificate, does that now extend the Student Pilot Certificate to 5 years?

And how about those that hadn't expired before the rule changed- do they get automatically extended?

No. The student pilot certificate is still 2 years. There's talk of extending that, but it hasn't been done.

As far as the medical, yes, even if it was issued before the change, it's valid for 60 calendar months (if you're under 40).

 

[Mike H]

Thanks. I'd heard it argued both ways, but couldn't find anything definitive in the FAR/AIM

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

Since the Student Pilot Certificate is also the medical certificate,

Ah grasshopper, I see the error of your ways.

The student pilot certificate is not also the medical certificate. They are two completely different certificates that happen to share the same piece of paper. Just a nice convenience for the new student pilot so she doesn't have to go to an AME for a medical and also to FSDO or DPE for a student pilot certificate.

However, msmpilot is incorrect. It's always been a bit of a confusing problem and, as of the October Part 61 revision, the duration of the two =is= tied together. Go look at 61.19(b).

 

[Mike H]

Ahhh.

A little noticed notation at the front of the 2010 FAR/AIM

"This publication contains current regulations as of July 27, 2009
The Aeronautical Information Manual is current through August 27, 2009"

So the current FAR/AIM doesn't contain the October change.

From the FAA website

Sec. 61.19

Duration of pilot and instructor certificates.

(a) General. The holder of a certificate with an expiration date may not, after that date, exercise the privileges of that certificate.

[(b) Student pilot certificate.
(1) For student pilots who have not reached their 40th birthday, the student pilot certificate does not expire until 60 calendar months after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
(2) For student pilots who have reached their 40th birthday, the student pilot certificate does not expire until 24 calendar months after the month of the date of examination shown on the medical certificate.
(3) For student pilots seeking a glider rating, balloon rating, or a sport pilot certificate, the student pilot certificate does not expire until 60 calendar months after the month of the date issued, regardless of the person's age.]
(c) Other pilot certificates. A pilot certificate (other than a student pilot certificate) issued under this part is issued without a specific expiration date. The holder of a pilot certificate issued on the basis of a foreign pilot license may exercise the privileges of that certificate only while that person's foreign pilot license is effective.
[(d) Flight instructor certificate. Except as specified in Sec. 61.197(b), a flight instructor certificate expires 24 calendar months from the month in which it was issued, renewed, or reinstated, as appropriate.
(e) Ground instructor certificate. A ground instructor certificate is issued without a specific expiration date.
(f) Return of certificates. The holder of any airman certificate that is issued under this part, and that has been suspended or revoked, must return that certificate to the FAA when requested to do so by the Administrator.] (g) Duration of pilot certificates. Except for a temporary certificate issued under Sec. 61.17 or a student pilot certificate issued under paragraph (b) of this section, the holder of a paper pilot certificate issued under this part may not exercise the privileges of that certificate after March 31, 2010.

 

[msmspilot]

Ah grasshopper, I see the error of your ways.

The student pilot certificate is not also the medical certificate. They are two completely different certificates that happen to share the same piece of paper. Just a nice convenience for the new student pilot so she doesn't have to go to an AME for a medical and also to FSDO or DPE for a student pilot certificate.

However, msmpilot is incorrect. It's always been a bit of a confusing problem and, as of the October Part 61 revision, the duration of the two =is= tied together. Go look at 61.19(b).

Hey, I thought I heard that was coming up. Thanks for the info.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

So the current FAR/AIM doesn't contain the October change.

I'm going to play language police here because a lot of people think there is some government publication called the "FAR/AIM" that has some official stranding. There isn't.

The FAR part of what is often titled "FAR/AIM" (I've also seen it titled "AIM/FAR" and other names) is a commercial book publisher's reprint of selections from Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. When publishing that book the commercial publisher had to meet some internal deadlines that probably had much more to do with being able to be on the shelves in time to meet the competition for the "2010" on the cover than anything else, especially the timing of changes to the real regs.

The real FAR can change at any time and the book you buy is is more likely to be out of date than current.

The official AIM is on a semi-regular federal publishing schedule and the reprint from your publishing company is probably pretty up-to-date.

 

[Bernoulli Fan]

One more reason for me not to spend $30 on a 2010 FAR/AIM to replace last year's.