Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

If a pilot has a Second-Class Medical Certificate issued 13 months ago, what can they do in the next 11 months?

1. Not act as pilot in command

2. Act as pilot but not carry passengers

3. Act as pilot and carry passengers for compensation

4. Act as pilot and carry passengers not for hire

The correct answer is: Act as pilot and carry passengers not for hire

A pilot with a Second-Class Medical Certificate, which is valid for 12 months for operations requiring that class of medical, can legally act as pilot-in-command during the 11 months following the issuance of the certificate. During this period, the pilot can carry passengers as long as they are not for compensation or hire, as this falls under the privileges of the Private Pilot Certificate. The reasoning behind this is grounded in FAA regulations, which stipulate that a second-class medical certificate is valid for 12 months when exercising the privileges of a Private Pilot. Therefore, when operating within this timeframe, the pilot retains the authority to act as pilot-in-command, and there are no restrictions on carrying passengers as long as no payment for the flight is involved. In summary, within the next 11 months, the pilot can operate as pilot-in-command and can carry passengers as long as the flights are not conducted for compensation or hire. This reinforces the understanding of medical certification validity and the operational privileges associated with it.