Medical Requirements For An Air Carrier Or Commercial Pilot

For pilots who want to complete their commercial pilot license or air carrier license, additional medical certification is required. While pilot schools only require third class medical certification for a private license, pilots must get a second class medical certificate for a commercial pilot license and first class certificate for air carrier licenses. All the same requirements as a third class medical certificate are required for air carrier and commercial pilot training, but there are other additional prerequisites.

In order to get second class medical certification for commercial pilot training, pilots must have 20/20 vision or better in each eye, with or without correction. Anyone over 50 who want to get a commercial pilot license must also have intermediate vision of 20/40 or better in each eye, with or without correction, as measured at 32 inches. Second class certificates for commercial pilot licenses are valid until the last day of the month, one year after they were issued. The certificate holder may then only exercise the privileges of a third class medical certificate, which is that of a private pilot license.

First class certificates require all the same things as commercial pilot training medical certificates, but they also require additional conditions. People attending pilot schools to become air carrier operators must have an electrocardiogram that shows normal heart functions once they reach age 35, and those over 40 must do so annually. First class certificates are valid until the last day of the month, six months after they were issued. The certificate holder may then only exercise the privileges of a second class medical certificate, until they go back to their pilot schools and renew.

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