The reg says the medical expires on a date based on your age on the date of the exam. So a PVT pilot should go out on the day before their 40th birthday and get a new medical to save money since it will be valid for 60 months which equals 5 years. Nothing expires after 36 months.

Whoops
 

Apologies to rick and wasp. I missed that rule change, from 3 to 5. I'm >40 so I guess it was either: not seen, forgotten, or ignored.

Thanks!

When did the Class III for <40 go from 36 months to 60 months?

I wish they would do away with Class 3 altogether.

It changed over a year ago

Thought it was a challenging question when I wrote it, why do away with the Class 3, it's all most private pilots require?

The merits of a Driver's License in lieu of a Class 3 medical for GA has been a topic for debate for almost a decade. The incidence of incapacitation in GA is statistically small. There are arguments to be made on both sides of the table.

The biggest issue with getting away from a third class medical is that folks only think of a guy flying a C-172 as using a 3rd class medical. Nobody thinks of the Jack Rouch's of the world flying jets under FAR 91. Were do you draw the line? While some might say the C-172 driver doesn't need a medical, few would feel that a jet (John Travolta's B707) doesn't need one.

The second thing to watch is how the whole LSA movement pans out. I see many self certifying pilots not really assessing if they are fit to fly. The open question is "Will the number of pilot incapacitations rise?"

That's the issue. Will those that self certify follow the letter of the law? Some will, Some won't. There's a lot in the GA world that's on the honor system: night currency, 6+6+Hold/tracking for IFR, etc.

I see my GP for regular physicals, etc. Why do I need to see an AME to tell me I'm still not color blind? I would surmise that those that know they will fail a Class 3 aren't going to get one and possibly fly anyway.

You raise some very interesting points - well done