Saftey pilot medical?

[Killtron2000]

Does a saftey pilot have to be current and have a medical? 91.109 doesn't say anything about it but I've heard that a saftey pilot does. It would sorta make sence that saftey pilot would need 20/20 to be safe and therefore need a medical but it also says they can have an observer if their view is blocked and this observer doesn't have to have a medical. Since the safety pilot doesn't have to land they don't have to be current. It would help if I could log simulated instrument with my dad who has a PPL. And would a saftey pilot log this time as SIC time since they would be a required crew member?

[aloft]

Since a safety pilot is a required crewmember under 91.109, acting in that capacity is an exercise of their pilot certificate privileges for which 61.23 requires a valid medical certificate. Though 91.109 requires the safety pilot to be certificated in category and class, he/she doesn't need to possess passenger-carrying currency under 61.57 unless he/she will act as PIC for the flight.

Regarding logging, a safety pilot not acting as PIC may log the time as SIC per 61.51(f)(2); a safety pilot acting as PIC may log the time as PIC per 61.51(e)(1)(iii) as long as the pilot flying the plane is doing so under simulated instrument conditions. The moment that hood comes off, only one pilot may log the time as the second crewmember is no longer required. Which pilot gets to log that time is determined, per 61.54, via a best-two-out-of-three contest of Rochambeaux, or, if one of the pilots is missing either index or middle fingers (necessary for "scissors"), via a single-elimination thumb-wrestling match.

[MidlifeFlyer]

Killtron,

Since you were asking a serious question and are new to the board, I'll tell you that, despite the obvious sideways jump (I love the Rochambeaux idea!), everything in aloft's post up to

Which pilot gets to log that time is determined, per 61.54, via a best-two-out-of-three contest of Rochambeaux, or, if one of the pilots is missing either index or middle fingers (necessary for "scissors"), via a single-elimination thumb-wrestling match.

is 100% correct.

[aloft]

Killjoy.

[Killtron2000]

thanks