1st class for all 121 pilots
 

As a result of the upcoming changes to the Pilot Certification and Qualification Requirements for Air Carrier Operations, effective Aug. 2, 2013, all pilots will be required to hold a first-class medical certificate to operate as PIC or SIC under Part 121 operations.

Although the final rule has NOT yet been published, there has been no indication given by the FAA that there will be any exemptions or extensions to allow for compliance with this requirement. According to Part 61.23 Medical Certificates: Requirement and duration, a pilot must hold a first-class medical certificate when exercising the privileges of an airline transport pilot certificate.

That's a valid question... wish I could offer some insight but hopefully someone else in the know could help. I know you only need to have a 3rd class to get a pic type in the sim but, without looking at the regs, I'm not sure if you need a 1st for the atp ride portion. Do you have your ATP already by chance? Of course, most airline will want you to have the 1st for the interview.

You don't need any medical for the sim ride, AFAIK, even the ATP initial. An airplane ride will require a 3'rd.

Big deal. First class is nothig but an expensive second class. You wanna know who's fit to fly then make it an Icao standard across the board but wait that would create a huge pilot shortage.:-[:-[ never mind.

The big deal to me isn't the physical, it is the frequency. My free time is precious, and I hate the whole Dr. drill.

Give me an astronaut physical if that is what they want, but make it annually.

Really, this irritates me to no end. How did we, as a group, end up with all these career-ending events like multiple check rides and physicals? Make all the surgeons out there get a physical too, and while we're at it, give them multiple "check surgeries" with the threat of having their ticket yanked. Get them to pee in a bottle as well.

We are the most controlled and scrutinized demographic in the world. I agree with you 100% - the brain surgeon doesn't have to take a "check surgery" periodically, nobody from the government shows up unannounced to "check his credentials and licenses", nobody gives him an "oral evaluation", he's not subject to periodic and random drug testing, he doesn't have to get a physical every six months, etc.

Yet we'll willingly put ourselves through that for truck driver pay (nothing against truck drivers).

With all due respect there are no surgeons that will pay to get a job and there are no surgeons that will perform a surgery for 17000 a yr just to wear a doctor's uniform. We are our worst enemy.:cool:

I agree with you, but not sure what it has to do with being the most controlled/scrutinized demographic/career?

Ooops sorry I was responding to the guy before you:o

Re: being controlled, I think we all know the answer.

It has to do with the spectacular results of a mistake. Large body counts, apartments set ablaze, fire engines all over, "We MUST find out why this happened, and fix it", etc. Splashed all over the media.

In a hospital, it's a quiet "oops, he died on the table", and a closed retrospective meeting among doctors. What do they call it, the "morbidity" meeting? Can you imagine if, after an airline accident, a group of line pilots met in a closed room to discuss the incident?

I know it's not that simple, and doctors get sued all the time, but that doesn't change the fact that they can be popping oxy's all day long while they do their job, and no federal check doctor is going to watch their triple bypass.