A medical certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is required for nearly all pilots to exercise the privileges of their airman certificate. The specific class of medical certificate a pilot must hold corresponds directly to the type of flying privileges they intend to exercise, ensuring a level of health appropriate for the operation. The FAA uses a structured system of medical certification, establishing different standards based on whether pilots fly for recreation, for hire, or at the airline level.
The Hierarchy of FAA Medical Certificates
The FAA issues three distinct classes of medical certificates, each supporting a different level of operational privilege. The First Class Medical Certificate is the most stringent, reserved for pilots operating under Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) regulations, such as those flying for major commercial airlines.
The Second Class Medical Certificate is the standard requirement for commercial pilots who are compensated for their work, including corporate flying, agricultural spraying, or banner towing. The Third Class Medical Certificate is the entry-level certificate, typically required for private, recreational, and student pilots who do not fly for compensation or hire.
The Specific Medical Requirement for Commercial Operations
A pilot seeking to exercise the privileges of a Commercial Pilot Certificate (CPC) must hold at least a current Second Class Medical Certificate. This is the minimum standard for any flight operation conducted for compensation or hire, such as carrying passengers or cargo for a fee.
While the Second Class certificate allows a pilot to be paid for flying, a First Class Medical Certificate is required if the commercial pilot is exercising ATP privileges, which typically involves serving as a captain in a scheduled air carrier operation under Part 121. For commercial pilots not flying for an airline, such as corporate pilots or certified flight instructors acting as pilot-in-command, maintaining a Second Class medical is sufficient to exercise commercial privileges.
Key Medical Standards for Certification
The medical standards for certification are detailed in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 67. This regulation outlines the physical and mental requirements an applicant must meet during an examination by an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). The standards for the Second Class certificate are largely identical to the First Class standards in many areas, reflecting the high level of responsibility required in commercial operations.
Vision
Visual acuity standards for both First and Second Class medical certificates require distant vision of 20/20 or better in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses. If corrective lenses are required, the pilot’s airman certificate will carry a limitation requiring them to be worn while flying. Near vision must be 20/40 or better at 16 inches in each eye separately, with or without correction. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to perceive the colors necessary for the safe performance of airman duties, usually tested through a series of color plates.
Hearing
The required hearing standards can be met in several ways during the medical examination. A pilot must be able to hear an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears, at a distance of six feet from the examiner, with their back turned. Alternatively, the requirement can be satisfied through audiometric testing, which involves demonstrating an acceptable understanding of speech discrimination at a score of at least 70 percent in one ear, or by meeting specific pure tone audiometry thresholds. These standards ensure clear communication with air traffic control and other crew members.
Cardiovascular Health
Cardiovascular standards prohibit a history or established clinical diagnosis of symptomatic conditions such as myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, or coronary heart disease that has required treatment. The FAA sets a guideline for blood pressure, which should be no higher than 155/95. For pilots holding a First Class certificate who are age 40 or older, an electrocardiogram (EKG) is required at the initial special issuance and then annually thereafter.
Mental and Neurological Conditions
The mental and neurological standards prevent the certification of individuals with conditions that could compromise flight safety. Disqualifying conditions include an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or a personality disorder severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts. Substance dependence and substance abuse within the preceding two years are also disqualifying. The neurological examination screens for conditions like epilepsy or any disturbance of consciousness without a satisfactory medical explanation.
Understanding Certificate Duration and Expiration
The duration for which a medical certificate is valid depends on the class obtained, the pilot’s age, and the specific privileges being exercised. A Second Class Medical Certificate is valid for exercising commercial privileges for 12 calendar months, regardless of age. The expiration date is calculated from the last day of the month in which the examination was performed.
Once the 12-month period for Second Class privileges expires, the certificate “cascades” to a Third Class Medical Certificate, allowing the pilot to continue exercising private pilot privileges. If the pilot is under age 40, the certificate remains valid for Third Class privileges for 60 calendar months. If the pilot is age 40 or older, the certificate is valid for Third Class privileges for 24 calendar months.
Steps to Obtain Your FAA Medical Certificate
The process of obtaining an FAA medical certificate begins with completing the application electronically through the FAA’s online system, MedXPress. This involves filling out FAA Form 8500-8, which requires a detailed disclosure of the applicant’s medical history, including past conditions and medications. Upon submission, the system generates a confirmation number that the pilot must provide to the Aviation Medical Examiner (AME).
The next step is to schedule an appointment with an FAA-designated AME, a physician trained in aviation medicine. The physical examination must be completed within 60 days of submitting the MedXPress application, or the application will expire. During the in-person exam, the AME reviews the pilot’s history and performs the required vision, hearing, cardiovascular, and general physical checks to confirm compliance with 14 CFR Part 67. If the pilot meets all the medical standards for the class applied for, the AME will issue the medical certificate immediately.