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Every pilot, in order to legally exercise the privileges of his or her pilot license or certificate, must have one of three types of medical certification, which are governed by the civil aviation authority which issued his or her license or certificate. Each certificate must be issued by a doctor approved by the authority to a person of stable physical and mental health. The three kinds are:

Note: Some of the language below is not correct, please read FAR 61.23(d)^[1] for the actual language.

• Third Class Medical Certificate- necessary to exercise the privileges of a private pilot license or certificate. In the United States, it expires after 60 calendar months for someone under the age of forty years, or 24 calendar months for someone over forty.

• Second Class Medical Certificate- necessary to exercise the privileges of a commercial pilot license or certificate. In the United States, it expires after 12 calendar months.

• First Class Medical Certificate- necessary to exercise the privileges of an airline transport pilot license or certificate. In the United States, it expires after 12 calendar months for someone under the age of forty years, or 6 calendar months for someone over forty.

When a certificate is expired, it may still be used to exercise the privileges of the highest level that would not yet have expired. For example, a nine month old American first class certificate could be used as a second class certificate.

Contents 1 Denial of Medical Certification 2 External links 3 Notes 4 See also

[edit] Denial of Medical Certification

Depending upon which Class certificate a pilot wants or needs, it is possible that either the Aviation Medical Examiner or the FAA may deny a pilot's medical certificate. This may be due to recent surgery, medication taken, non-aviation-related offenses (such as drunk driving citations), or any other medical condition. Pilots may appeal denials up to and including formal appeals to the National Transportation Safety Board. The process of making an appeal includes meticulous documentation of a pilot's medical condition, therapies involved in treatment, and may be accompanied by psychological evaluations and/or other data. While any pilot may successfully make and receive approval via appeals, there are professional organizations that exist to aid pilots in appealing the denial of a medical certificate.

[edit] External links

• ARMA Research's FAQs on working with a professional organization that assists pilots having medical certificate issuance difficulties
• NTSB official position on options following medical certificate denial
• FAA Guidelines for Medical Appeal
• http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/faq/response4/

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

Pilot certification in the United States#Medical certification and requirements