QUick medical question

[USMC-SGT]

Just to clear this up (I hate to waste a thread on this) I need to be 100 percent sure because I am starting VA training this week and even if i get a second class medical the day after my first .1 of flight training they will not reimburse for the entire rating so i want to be sure.....so here goes

I recieved a first class medical on May 11, 2005

My medical reverted to a second class after October 31'st 2005 correct?

My second class medical will revert to a third class after October 31'st 2006 correct?

meaning that until November 1st of this year I currently have a second class medical? I know the regs and ive looked it up but i dont want to risk a few thousand dollars on my errant math and calendar work. I plan on getting in for another first class next week however i should be starting my private multi and instrument this week and that would SUCK to be wrong and currently be flying under a third class medical and......NOT BE ELLIGIBLE FOR VA BENIS

Please guide me you certificated instructors of flight

[flyguy]

This is a common misconception that a first class reverts to a second, reverts to a thrid etc. A first class never turns into a second class. It will always be a first class. However, it cannot be used for ATP privelages after 6 calendar months. That same first class medical also cannot be used for commercial privelages after 12 calendar months. Depending on your age, that first class medical can be used for either 24 or 36 calendar months for private privelages. Now to answer your question, if you got a first class medical in May 2005, it could be used for ATP privelages until November 30, 2005 (6 calendar months later). It could still be used for commercial privelages until the end of May 2006. It can be used for private privelages until the end of May 2007 if you are over 40, or until the end of May 2008 if you are under 40. It is a first class medical through that whole time however. If your VA bennefits require a current second class medical (current for commercial privelages) it expired on June 1, 2006.

[USMC-SGT]

Fly guy,
I guess it is a good thing that I asked, you cleared it up very well for me. I dont understand what exactly the VA wants with the exception that it only states that

veterans, service members and reservist may receive educational benefits for flight training provided that the individual also meets the medical requirements of a commercial pilots license. VA regulations require that in order to receive benefits for flight training, a student MUST hold a current Class II medical certificate upon enrollment. IF a student receives the proper medical certificate after the first day of the course, Department of Veterans Affairs will deny benefits for the entire course.

that is verbatim out of the VA bulletin 06-1 so if you are right..which i am sure you are...it looks like I am off to the Dr. sooner than i thought. I am glad I asked because I would have fallen under the category of the long bold underlined sentence where it says they will not pay me

On a side note, I talked to the owner of the flight school and he informed me that since i had a first class medical that I was fine and that the VA only wanted to know that i was fit enough to pass the medical exam...but if he was wrong i am sure he wouldnt reimburse to me what the VA refused I should get it in writing

[triplec76]

As I'm sure you will do the same, I certainly wouldn't take the GM's word for it, especially if he has no experience with the VA. From what experience I have with them (my Dad being a veteran and the VA officer for our county for 20 years), I would almost advise you to go back and get that first or second, whatever you need to cover your rear end. You only need it upon enrollment, so I figure it would be worth the $90 or whatever your DME is charging.