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.
This may be how it is at AE, but not everywhere. When I was at ExpressJet we had to get a 1st Class Medical EVERY year. We were allowed to let it go past 6 months, HOWEVER when we went to get our medical renewed it was required to be
renewed as a 1st Class Medical. We were never allowed to just get a 2nd Class. This is how it works at DAL/NWA as well.
BTW, when your 1st class medical hits 6 months it is STILL a 1st class medical. It does NOT become a 2nd class medical, you are just not allowed to excercise the privileges of that 1st class medical past 6 months.