What class medical are you guys instructing with?

[Timbuff10]

I have a 1st class medical that is coming up on being 3 years old and have been instructing with it for basically all of my CFI experience. I know that in order to use your CFI ticket, all you need is a 3rd class but was told by my flight school that I will need at least a second class medical to instruct part 141 students. Anyone heard of this requirement by flight schools?

What class medical is everyone else using?

[desertdog71]

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

I have a 1st class medical that is coming up on being 3 years old and have been instructing with it for basically all of my CFI experience. I know that in order to use your CFI ticket, all you need is a 3rd class but was told by my flight school that I will need at least a second class medical to instruct part 141 students. Anyone heard of this requirement by flight schools?

What class medical is everyone else using?

First Class, just renewed on the 9th.

I hadn't heard about the 2nd class for 141 requirement.

[Cessnaflyer]

Where I am at we require a 2nd class and I think CWU does also. I haven't seen any regs about it so I am thinking it is just a mass followed practice.

[flyer8]

I usually don't need a medical when I instruct. (CFIG)

I think it's more of an insurance requirement for the schools. I think SIU requires all pilots to get a second class medical (Don't quote me on this one...)

Now don't you need a second class medical when being paid for Flight instructing?

61.23 (2) states that
"Must hold at least a second-class medical certificate when exercising the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate" Aren't you doing so when Flight Instructing for hire?

(3) states that (iv) When exercising the privileges of a flight instructor certificate, but I don't think that includes when instructing for compensation.


-Nik

[MichaelCPS]

I have instructed with all three classes of Medical Certificates. Right now I have a first that I renew every year.

When I first broke into instructing, I had just a Third Class. The FSDO in Kansas City took exception to it for some reason and told me that I need a second class or else risk enforcement action. I asked for them to show me where in the regs it said that, and they couldn't....

....but just in case, I went and got a Second Class. Good thing too, because 3 weeks later, I was sitting right seat in a brand new C550 flying away from ICT.

Michael

[desertdog71]

Originally Posted by MichaelCPS

The FSDO in Kansas City

The ICT FSDO is WAY BETTER!!!!! I have never heard anything positive about the KC FSDO NEVER!!!!

[MichaelCPS]

Originally Posted by desertdog71

The ICT FSDO is WAY BETTER!!!!! I have never heard anything positive about the KC FSDO NEVER!!!!

I actually think the KC FSDO is pretty good. I have a great relationship with them. However, they DO sometimes make up their own interpretations. I have talked to three different people in the same day and received 3 different interpretations. I think that is just the FAA-wide standard.

[mojo6911]

Originally Posted by MichaelCPS

I think that is just the FAA-wide standard.

It is...

I think the distiction is that you are getting paid to instruct, not to actually fly, like a commercial operation. I keep at least 2nd class in case I have to ferry a plane or something like that.

[MidlifeFlyer]

I've always instructed with a third class medical.

Multiple interpretations of the requiement aren't really multiple "interpretations." There is a clear answer from the FAA. Multiple answers just means that some people know the answer and some people don't.

[CFIse]

You can instruct with a 3rd class, but lots of other things that FBOs do will require a 2nd class. Ferrying planes, pilot services, sightseeing etc. etc. So as long as ALL you do is instruct, no problem.

[Timbuff10]

Yeah, I am getting mine renewed in a few weeks. Interesting to see that others are doing like I am and just using the 3rd class. For a while there when I was told that I needed a 2nd or better, I thought all of my time over the last two years was about to be deleted. I found that regulation faster than any reg I have ever found before. It is a bit confusing the way they worded it but it is there.

As for the Ferrying planes, and doing test flights and things of that nature, I don't want to do that stuff anyway. That is when things start to get kinda funky from what I have found.

[nosehair]

By FAA regulation, a 141 instructor does not need a second class, but if the school has a 141 TCO which requires a second class, then that is what is required. The TCO, as approved by the FSDO is what becomes the regulation for that operation. We used to have to have a second class until some bright law student saw that there were no medical requirements in the Eligibility requirements, and everyone was going on the idea that it was a commercial operation, so...

Anyway, if the school has not changed the Instructor Requirements of your FAA approved TCO, then a second class is required.

[Timbuff10]

Originally Posted by nosehair

By FAA regulation, a 141 instructor does not need a second class, but if the school has a 141 TCO which requires a second class, then that is what is required. The TCO, as approved by the FSDO is what becomes the regulation for that operation. We used to have to have a second class until some bright law student saw that there were no medical requirements in the Eligibility requirements, and everyone was going on the idea that it was a commercial operation, so...

Anyway, if the school has not changed the Instructor Requirements of your FAA approved TCO, then a second class is required.

Yeah, I am seeing that this is the case at my school. I went from a place that taught the same stuff (part 141) but only required a 3rd class, to a place that now requires a 2nd or better. So guess who is going off to get a medical soon. Seems like they would have told me this at the beginning. Oh well, I was going to have to get it done this summer anyway.

Maybe I should use the first 6 months of this medical to go ahead and make the 121 jump then?

[skydriverdc6]

I was told by my FSDO that all you need is a 3rd class, because youre not providing piloting services for hire, youre providing teaching services for hire. Thus 2nd class is not required.

[PanJet]

I keep a second class just in case. I don't want to have an opportunity pop-up for a job or something that would require a second class and miss it because I would have to rush and get one.