How can I flight instruct with only a 3rd class medical (thats all I can get right now)? Had a friend tell me I can still instruct if I don't charge, or use my airplane and charge more for that and not charge for the instruction, but I don't see anything in the regs about this.
Your friend is wrong. You can teach, and charge money for it, on a third class medical certificate. While a commercial is a prerequisite to take a CFI checkride, flight instruction is
not a commercial operation, and thus does not require a second-class medical. I taught with a third-class for years.
No guesswork needed on this one; 61.23 spells this one out for you:
Sec. 61.23 - Medical certificates: Requirement and duration.
(a)
Operations requiring a medical certificate. Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, a person:
(1) Must hold a first-class medical certificate when exercising the privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate;
(2) Must hold at least a second-class medical certificate when exercising the 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;
(ii) When exercising the privileges of a recreational pilot certificate;
(iii) Except as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, when exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate;
(iv)
When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate, except for a flight instructor certificate with a glider category rating, if the person is acting as the pilot in command or is serving as a required pilot flight crewmember...