FAA lengthens Medical certificate

[Rob Schaffer]

The FAA has changed the duration of the medical certificate from 3 yrs to 5 years for the third class. Here's a summary sheet that the AOPA put together.

Change in FAR 61 is supposed to happen today,..
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/articles/2008/080723medical.html

 

[AdamZ]

I think it only applies if your under 40 right. There is no extension for folks 40 and over if I'm correct.

 

[KennyFlys]

I think it only applies if your under 40 right. There is no extension for folks 40 and over if I'm correct.

That's what I got out of the guide.

 

[HPNPilot1200]

I think it only applies if your under 40 right. There is no extension for folks 40 and over if I'm correct.

Correct, which means I don't have to worry about the over 40 rule for another 23 years. *Doh*

 

[TMetzinger]

It applies if you were under 40 when you last got your examination, so you might be over 40 now and still have it apply.

 

[Lance F]

My son is going to be pi***d. He's taking his 3rd class medical as I type this. His three years are up the end of the month, so he really had two more years to go.

 

[EdFred]

Sweet, mine was due next month.

 

[EdFred]

My son is going to be pi***d. He's taking his 3rd class medical as I type this. His three years are up the end of the month, so he really had two more years to go.

But now he'll be good for 5 years. I'll probably get one next May. That will set me up to be 39 and 11+ months when it comes due in 2014.

 

[gprellwitz]

Sweet! I was 39 and 11 months when I got my last one (about 6 months early), so I get another two years!

 

[ron22]

I knew I should of got mine before I turned 40. I figured it really was not worth it for 1 year but for 3 years it would have been.

 

[Tristar]

Hah! This is great, mine was up at the end of this month!

 

[michelle]

Correct, which means I don't have to worry about the over 40 rule for another 23 years. *Doh*

damned kids

oh well, at least it's only $75

 

[Ted]

Woohoo! I'm good for another 4 years!

Of course, if I end up needing a 1st or 2nd class medical for other reasons (which at my rate may happen), I still have to go back.

 

[Everskyward]

damned kids

No kidding....

 

[tlglenn]

Hmm, is a medical certificate voided when a new one is issued? For example, suppose I get a second-class medical when I'm 39. Then I get another when I'm 40. I then decide I'm not exercising commercial pilot privileges any longer. Could I use the old one until I'm 44 or am I stuck with the new one until I'm 42?

 

[2256Q]

Correct, which means I don't have to worry about the over 40 rule for another 23 years. *Doh*

Showoff!

 

[JohnAJohnson]

damned kids

oh well, at least it's only $75

AMEs will need to jack up their rates for us old codgers to compensate for the lack of business

 

[kevin47881]

Hey, what happened to not being able to discriminate to those of us over 40?

 

[TMetzinger]

Hmm, is a medical certificate voided when a new one is issued? For example, suppose I get a second-class medical when I'm 39. Then I get another when I'm 40. I then decide I'm not exercising commercial pilot privileges any longer. Could I use the old one until I'm 44 or am I stuck with the new one until I'm 42?

You're stuck. It's from the date of your last medical certificate (which you got when you were 40).

 

[harryg]

Oh well, too little...too late. At least I get to watch the young whipper-snappers go to work each day

 

[EdFred]

Hey, what happened to not being able to discriminate to those of us over 40?

Shut up and drink your discount price coffee at McDonald's geezer!

 

[Ghery]

damned kids

oh well, at least it's only $75

No kidding....

Given that I was 49 when I passed my PP check ride, this has no effect on me, either. Well, those young whippersnappers can enjoy it. A visit to the AME every other year isn't even a blip on the list of doctor visits these days. Enjoy it, kids.

 

[TangoWhiskey]

So, if my current medical doesn't expire for another two years, can I get it renewed EARLIER than required to reset the date? I turn 40 in late January 2009. Can I go see the AME in early January 2009 (even though my current one is valid til 2011) and get a new one valid til 2014?

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Here's a funny thought... who wants to bet it takes another eight years before the written exams are updated to match the now-current rules.

 

[KennyFlys]

So, if my current medical doesn't expire for another two years, can I get it renewed EARLIER than required to reset the date? I turn 40 in late January 2009. Can I go see the AME in early January 2009 (even though my current one is valid til 2011) and get a new one valid til 2014?

I was thinking of the same scenario, not that it would apply to me any more.

 

[Bob Noel]

> who wants to bet it takes another eight years before the written exams
> are updated to match the now-current rules.

"written"?

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Yeah, yeah, yeah! KNOWLEDGE!

 

[tlglenn]

So, if my current medical doesn't expire for another two years, can I get it renewed EARLIER than required to reset the date? I turn 40 in late January 2009. Can I go see the AME in early January 2009 (even though my current one is valid til 2011) and get a new one valid til 2014?

Yes, you can go in early.

 

[gprellwitz]

So, if my current medical doesn't expire for another two years, can I get it renewed EARLIER than required to reset the date? I turn 40 in late January 2009. Can I go see the AME in early January 2009 (even though my current one is valid til 2011) and get a new one valid til 2014?

Yup! That's what I did, back when it was only 3 years. So I only expected to come out about 6 months ahead. Now, of course, I came out 30 months ahead!