license classes...medical leave...fly corporate?

[Kristie]

here's a question i'm wondering about...

if you're on medical leave (from your pilot job at a major airline) and your "license" changes "classes" (can't fly for 6 months at said major airline)...can you still fly for a corporate airline even though you can't fly commercially?

[Dugie8]

First, your medical never changes classes. If you hold a first class medical you have to meet the first class medical standards to fly, regardless of the age of the medical (save for an expired medical). The only thing that changes are the privelages you can excercise with that medical, after 6 months 2nd class, after 12 months third class.

The only operation that requires a first class medical is 121 Captains by the FARs. All other ops, 135, 91 corporate, etc all require a commercial pilots license and that only requires a 2nd class medical to excercise those privelages.

Check out the FARs under 121 and 135, look for the "pilot qualifications" section(s).

[ricecakecm]

Some 135 operations require an ATP and 1st Class medical....

Anything that's turbojet powered and any aircraft with (I think) more than 9 passenger seats requires the PIC to have an ATP and current 1st Class Medical.

Part 91 corporate only requires a commerical certificate and 2nd class medical, although some most corporate flight departments want an ATP.