MEDICAL CERTIFICATE

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Operations requiring a medical certificate.  Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, a person - 

(1) Must hold a first-class medical certificate: 

• (i) When exercising the pilot-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate; 

• (ii) When exercising the second-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate in a flag or supplemental operation in part 121 of this chapter that requires three or more pilots; or 

• (iii) When serving as a required pilot flightcrew member in an operation conducted under part 121 of this chapter if the pilot has reached his or her 60th birthday. 

(2) Must hold at least a second class medical certificate when exercising: 

• (i) Second-in-command privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate in part 121 of this chapter (other than operations specified in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section); or 

• (ii) 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, recreational pilot certificate, or student pilot certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i); 

• (ii) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flightcrew member, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i); 

• (iii) When taking a practical test in an aircraft for a recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, or airline transport pilot certificate, or for a flight instructor certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i); or 

• (iv) When performing the duties as an Examiner in an aircraft when administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization. 

(b) Operations not requiring a medical certificate.  A person is not required to hold a medical certificate - 

(1) When exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking - 

• (i) A sport pilot certificate with glider or balloon privileges; or 

• (ii) A pilot certificate with a glider category rating or balloon class rating; 

(2) When exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate with privileges in a glider or balloon; 

(3) When exercising the privileges of a pilot certificate with a glider category rating or balloon class rating in a glider or a balloon, as appropriate; 

(4) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with - 

• (i) A sport pilot rating in a glider or balloon; or 

• (ii) A glider category rating; 

(5) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate if the person is not acting as pilot in command or serving as a required pilot flight crewmember; 

(6) When exercising the privileges of a ground instructor certificate; 

(7) When serving as an Examiner or check airman and administering a practical test or proficiency check for an airman certificate, rating, or authorization conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device; 

(8) When taking a practical test or a proficiency check for a certificate, rating, authorization or operating privilege conducted in a glider, balloon, flight simulator, or flight training device; 

(9) When a military pilot of the U.S. Armed Forces can show evidence of an up-to-date medical examination authorizing pilot flight status issued by the U.S. Armed Forces and - 

• (i) The flight does not require higher than a third-class medical certificate; and 

• (ii) The flight conducted is a domestic flight operation within U.S. airspace; or 

(10) When exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate or higher while acting as pilot in command on a special medical flight test authorized under part 67 of this chapter. 

(c) Operations requiring either a medical certificate or U.S. driver's license. 

(1) A person must hold and possess either a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter or a U.S. driver's license when - 

• (i) Exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking sport pilot privileges in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon; 

• (ii) Exercising the privileges of a sport pilot certificate in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon; 

• (iii) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate with a sport pilot rating while acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flight crewmember of a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon; 

• (iv) Serving as an Examiner and administering a practical test for the issuance of a sport pilot certificate in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon; 

• (v) Exercising the privileges of a student, recreational or private pilot certificate if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i); or 

• (vi) Exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate and acting as the pilot in command or as a required flight crewmember if the flight is conducted under the conditions and limitations set forth in § 61.113(i). 

(2) A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) while exercising sport pilot privileges must - 

• (i) Comply with each restriction and limitation imposed by that person's U.S. driver's license and any judicial or administrative order applying to the operation of a motor vehicle; 

• (ii) Have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application (if the person has applied for a medical certificate); 

• (iii) Not have had his or her most recently issued medical certificate (if the person has held a medical certificate) suspended or revoked or most recent Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate withdrawn; and 

• (iv) Not know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make that person unable to operate a light-sport aircraft in a safe manner. 

(3) A person using a U.S. driver's license to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) while operating under the conditions and limitations of § 61.113(i) must meet the following requirements - 

(i) The person must - 

(A) Comply with all medical requirements or restrictions associated with his or her U.S. driver's license; 

(B) At any point after July 14, 2006, have held a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter; 

(C) Complete the medical education course set forth in § 68.3 of this chapter during the 24 calendar months before acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member in an operation conducted under § 61.113(i) and retain a certification of course completion in accordance with § 68.3(b)(1) of this chapter; 

(D) Receive a comprehensive medical examination from a State-licensed physician during the 48 months before acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member of an operation conducted under § 61.113(i) and that medical examination is conducted in accordance with the requirements in part 68 of this chapter; and 

(E) If the individual has been diagnosed with any medical condition that may impact the ability of the individual to fly, be under the care and treatment of a State-licensed physician when acting as pilot in command or serving as a required flightcrew member of an operation conducted under § 61.113(i). 

(ii) The most recently issued medical certificate - 

(A) May include an authorization for special issuance; 

(B) May be expired; and 

(C) Cannot have been suspended or revoked. 

(iii) The most recently issued Authorization for a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate cannot have been withdrawn; and 

(iv) The most recent application for an airman medical certificate submitted to the FAA cannot have been completed and denied. 

(d) Duration of a medical certificate.  Use the following table to determine duration for each class of medical certificate: