First Class Medical required by FO's to fly to ICAO destinations

[canyonblue]

interesting, cause I am hearing the FAA is considering making a first class physical good for 12 months.

The Class of medical is determined by the ability to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held. I have a First Class Medical, which is required by all Southwest pilots, and as an F/O it is good for one year. The Class of medical does not change, ie: after 6 months it does not magically change into a second class, but rather the class required for the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held is what matters. I still have passed the medical certification required by Sec. 67.113 of the FAR's, and it is still a First Class Medical.

 

[TriStar_drvr]

Does SWA only require FOs to get a first class medical once a year?

 

[Tejas-Jet]

So Tejas-Jet, Ironspud, and Michael707 all say medical standards are staying the same or decreasing because pilots are such healthy specimens of humanity.

So then how come last week a 121 pilot only needed a 2nd class medical to fly but this week we all need a 1st class medical? ie. No EKG last week but required this week

If you think for one minute medical standards are staying the same or decreasing because a few out-of-the-know AME's says so you are mistaken.

Say no to age 65 and keep things the same as this weeks newest change.

Can't speak for the other guys but it appears that you haven't read any of my prior posts on the subject, since I have never mentioned that pilots are "such healthy specimens of humanity"...your words, not mine.

Your question.... why was it OK for a 2nd class last week but now it's not? Don't know, don't care. Maybe you should take it up with your Chief Pilot. At "my house" all our pilots are required to have a 1st class...been that way for a long time.

When I said that my information came from an FAA doctor, I didn't mean an "out-of-the-know AME." I meant my information comes from an FAA doctor who works for the FAA at OKC.

Say "no to age 65"? Haven't you been doing that already? Guess what? There are already American citizens flying on airliners being commanded by Pilots over age 60 in American airspace...all agreed to by the U.S. Government...and it's being done daily/hourly with no threat to safety/health.

...looks like you're too late on this issue.

Tejas

 

[Tejas-Jet]

CAL MEC is reporting a CDG flight as delayed due to this ruling.

You know, it's too bad some of the CRAP can't reach those SWA slackjaws first and screw up their operation!

Dude...go get some help. Call ALPA Areomedical, tell them some pilot threw some burgers on the grill the day Braniff filed for BK and it is affecting your ability to discuss issues in a rational manner.

FYI....SWA requires all thier pilots to have a 1st class medical....your current issue won't affect anyone here.

...but, if it makes you feel better, the Dallas Morning news is reporting that due to high winds in the DFW area this past Saturday, SWA had to cancel 9 flights.

There....is it all better now?

Tejas

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Your question.... why was it OK for a 2nd class last week but now it's not? Don't know, don't care.

When I said that my information came from an FAA doctor, I didn't mean an "out-of-the-know AME." I meant my information comes from an FAA doctor who works for the FAA at OKC.

Tejas

Thanks for illustrating my point. Medical standards are changing and you don't know and don't care, your words.

An FAA doctor in OKC says everything staying the same while at that very moment in time changing the rules to ICAO standards contradicting the position you are saying the FAA in OKC stands for. So what is it Tejas? Are the standards what the FAA sets or ICAO? And since ICAO is setting the standards how does that keep the standards the same as we have today at the FAA? It doesn't.

So you and the OKC FAA doctor are spinning this like CNN and company and the medical standards are changing and will change further. The paper work FAA Class One is going to be full blown ICAO medical which far exceeds FAA Class One standards.

 

[Flopgut]

FYI....SWA requires all thier pilots to have a 1st class medical....your current issue won't affect anyone here.

Start flying to CDG. We'll talk then.

 

[mdf]

The bottom line is this. The FAA is a reactionary agency. When ICAO said it was okay to fly at age 65, the FAA should have said sorry, not over our airspace. Instead they say sure, and push for change. Now the frogs are saying everyone needs first class medicals, and what do we do? We get them. The tail is wagging the dog once again. It's the UN all over again. No wonder the world lacks respect for the U.S.

 

[michael707767]

Michael707 is worried about a pilot shortage. Pilot shortages are not possible. .........With over 5000+ ALPA pilots on furlough who are all qualified to fly any captain position the geezers are trying to keep for another five years, I just don't understand your pilot shortage issue.

I fully understand there are still many guys on furlough. But, how many of them are actually unemployed? A furloughed Delta pilot who is at CHQ is not unemployed, and when he is recalled, his spot at CHQ has to be filled.

Yes, to fill spots airlines will (and are) lower standards. From what I am hearing, many regionals are now accepting about 400 hours total time for new hires. So to a certain extent, you are right, there will never really be a shortage of applicants who meet the minimums. But there will be, and I believe already is, a shortage of experienced pilots.

 

[michael707767]

The Class of medical is determined by the ability to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held. I have a First Class Medical, which is required by all Southwest pilots, and as an F/O it is good for one year. The Class of medical does not change, ie: after 6 months it does not magically change into a second class, but rather the class required for the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held is what matters. I still have passed the medical certification required by Sec. 67.113 of the FAR's, and it is still a First Class Medical.

Ok, technically you are correct. Your first class physical is good for 12 months if your operations only require a second class medical certificate. But, if you upgrade from FO to Capt 9 months after your last exam, you would have to have a new physical wouldn't you?

What I was referring too is I have heard that the FAA is considering looking at making a first class physical good for one year for someone whose operations require a first class medical certificate.

 

[canyonblue]

Ok, technically you are correct. But what I was referring too is I have heard that the FAA is considering looking at making a first class physical good for one year for someone whose operations require a first class medical certificate.

Understood. Just hope if it is one year the requirements for certification do not change.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Thanks for illustrating my point. Medical standards are changing and you don't know and don't care, your words.

An FAA doctor in OKC says everything staying the same while at that very moment in time changing the rules to ICAO standards contradicting the position you are saying the FAA in OKC stands for. So what is it Tejas? Are the standards what the FAA sets or ICAO? And since ICAO is setting the standards how does that keep the standards the same as we have today at the FAA? It doesn't.

So you and the OKC FAA doctor are spinning this like CNN and company and the medical standards are changing and will change further. The paper work FAA Class One is going to be full blown ICAO medical which far exceeds FAA Class One standards.

Geez...do I gotta explain everything to you? What I mean is...if a 1st class is now required in France...I don't know why....nor do I care why.

All I can tell you is what I have been told....the current FAA 1st class standards are not going to change from the self reporting system we have now....even with the age change to 65...

...and the interval on a 1st class just might change to 1 year from the current 6 months.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Start flying to CDG. We'll talk then.

Don't really care to ever fly into CDG. If I really wanted to fly there that bad, I would've never left the legacy carrier I was formerly employed at.

In fact, when I made the decision to accept the offer from SWA almost 12 years ago....CDG never entered the decision making process.

Besides, the last time I was in Paris, it was your tax dollars that made it possible.

Tejas

 

[Flopgut]

Geez...do I gotta explain everything to you? What I mean is...if a 1st class is now required in France...I don't know why....nor do I care why.

All I can tell you is what I have been told....the current FAA 1st class standards are not going to change from the self reporting system we have now....even with the age change to 65...

...and the interval on a 1st class just might change to 1 year from the current 6 months.

Come on Tejas, do you not see how stoopid your posts are?

You maintain that you heard from some FAA doctor that medicals won't change, when it could NOT be more obvious that a longstanding medical policy was just tossed in favor of ICAO interpretation! Stop mouthing off and look at what people are trying to tell you. Can you read?! ICAO just basically told us what medical to carry, how long is it going to be until they tell us how that exam is going to be administered?

We are headed for astronaut physicals.

 

[Flopgut]

Don't really care to ever fly into CDG. If I really wanted to fly there that bad, I would've never left the legacy carrier I was formerly employed at.

In fact, when I made the decision to accept the offer from SWA almost 12 years ago....CDG never entered the decision making process.

Besides, the last time I was in Paris, it was your tax dollars that made it possible.

Tejas

Good for you. What I meant is that I would really like to see SWA try to start flying to some ICAO destinations. The way you guys taxi, fly, and talk on the radio, the French would ban you! You aren't even really suitable for Mexico; you exaggerate enough in a full radar environment.

 

[Tejas-Jet]

Good for you. What I meant is that I would really like to see SWA try to start flying to some ICAO destinations.

Why should we when there is sooooooo much profit to be made from domestic flying?

Tejas

 

[Tejas-Jet]

We are headed for astronaut physicals.

What....9 minutes on a treadmill like some guy said on these boards recently??? What a laugh...

The medical standards may have changed in France...but they haven't changed here on the good old USA...where there are still profits to be made...

BTW...what is the status of that situation now? And is this just in France or is it the same for England, Ireland, Espania (Spain), Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Belarus, and the others?

Tejas

 

[Flopgut]

What....9 minutes on a treadmill like some guy said on these boards recently??? What a laugh...

Tejas

I don't care if it's ONE minute! What did we get for it? How much money? NONE! We get to work longer, that's all. Thanks bud.

Taking a more intense physical over a larger number of years, for the same career earnings, is not what you call "smart" Tejas.

 

[Flopgut]

BTW...what is the status of that situation now? And is this just in France or is it the same for England, Ireland, Espania (Spain), Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Belarus, and the others?

Tejas

Well, let me get out a globe and give you a complete rundown?!

From CAL: JAA will eventually set the standard. So you need to plan on spending your non-flying time either running or eating a fish. Preferebly both simultaneously. But first, CAL is going to have to answer whether or not the IRO has to be an actual captain. The rule says "captain qualified", which used to mean a type rating only. That was back when we only needed second class medicals....

 

[Little Bubba]

Few notes about ICAO medicals ( I have done them for the past 10 years)... 11/05 they changed the validty of a first class from 6 mos to 12 mos.

The exam DOES NOT differ much from FAA. The only thing that stands out is that they actually check your weight. If that is what you call "astronaut physicals", then you probably shoudn't be flying, period.

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Contrary to what other posters would have you believe,


MEDICAL STANDARDS ARE CHANGING FOR THE WORSE THANKS TO THE AGE 65 DEBATE.

BEND OVER OLD GEEZER over 40.