Originally Posted by
neck
The only reason I can come up with is that someone thought that a jumpseating ASI might need to assist in the operation of a flight should either crewmember become incapacitated.
My understanding is that the requirement came from when inspectors used to spend a lot more time giving checks in aircraft. It wasn't THAT long ago that regionals did all their training and checking in the aircraft, and the ASI job description/requirements have remained effectively unchanged for a LONG time. Obviously things are quite different today, and it's becoming rarer and rarer for ASIs to be onboard an aircraft during flight.
Originally Posted by
neck
Or maybe the idea was that since they were to be in a cockpit, a medical would give some limited assurance they had no medical condition which might cause them to croak or something.
Actually, there is a separate medical exam that is part of the hiring process that addresses this exact issue. It is completely independent of holding an FAA medical certificate, and is required for all inspectors - even those positions that don't need a medical. You basically go see a doctor, they do a very basic physical, and sign a form that literally says you are unlikely to keel over from riding in an airplane.