Originally Posted by johnso29

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.