Originally Posted by
Mason32
That is factually incorrect. The airlines require potential new hires to have a first class medical when being hired.... for exactly the reason you cite - to ensure they CAN get one. Once hired, and since the majority of the time the airline pays for the medical ceritificate, they do not require FO's to keep a first class medical. So, when their initial first class expires and reverts to 2nd class they continue to work. When that expires, they go get a new 2nd class medical since it is all that is required, and is cheaper.
Yes, they do have to have one to get hired, but not to remain employed. So, after their first reverts to second, then expires... the new issue will be a 2nd class and they don't appear in your study.
Also, you need to clarify what you are talking about when you say major airlines, and when you say regional airlines. There are MANY airlines operating regional type equipment that the Federal Govt lists as being Major airlines...
Likewise there are large aircraft operators who are not even 1/10th the size of what some people call regionals.
You and I will have to agree to disagree on this. I think most FO's still go in and renew their medical once a year as a first and then get a new one twelve months later. I know I did as did my fellow pilots.
In the numbers major airlines are the ones on APC that fly large equipment, like 737's or bigger. Regionals are the ones that fly smaller equipment. Yes, I'm aware that Express Jet, Republic, Skywest and others have more than $1 billion in annual sales. However, in the numbers above they are considered regionals.