Downgraded Second Class

[weekendwarrior]

The FAR states that a second class medical is downgraded to a third class after 12 months. Does this mean that you have an additional 24 months, totaling 36 months?

If, by definition, it becomes a 3rd class medical, then it should be good for a total of 36 months. That's the way I read it anyway. Of course, after 12 months you lose the commercial privaledges of the second class.

So do I have 36 months total, or am I missing something?

 

[weekendwarrior]

I should mention this would be for someone under 40 years old.

 

[Mmmmmm Burritos]

Yes. 1st class 2nd class 3rd class.... for a private pilot they are all good for 36 months. Technically you can't even USE a first or second class medical as a private pilot. You can get a first class, but you are using third class privledges (sp?).

 

[weekendwarrior]

That's what I thought. On the medical page of flightinfo it says that After the twelve calendar months this medical is downgraded to a third class medical, where it is good as a third class medical for an additional 12 months.This would be true if you were older than 40. Kind of worried me when I looked at my medical thought it had expired.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Kind of worried me when I looked at my medical thought it had expired.

You should have looked at the =back= of your medical certificate where it tells you exactly how it works without using the unfortunate and incorrect word "downgraded" or viewing it as "morphing" from one class to another.

 

[weekendwarrior]

Doh! Never looked at the back.....add this one to the dorky pilot series.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Doh! Never looked at the back.....add this one to the dorky pilot series.

LOL! Don't feel too bad. I think I've used the "turn the stupid thing over" answer at least 4 other times so far this year!