US Doper pilots - I know you are out there. I have a question for you.
Specifically regarding medical certificate, certifying your medical fitness to aviate - how often do they need to be renewed under FAA regs, and how much do they cost?
6 calendar months for a First Class (airliners, etc), 12 calendar months for a Second Class (commercial), 24 or 36 calendar months for a Third Class (private), depending on age. At the end of each of those times, the certificate is as effective as the next class (i.e., after 6 months a 1st class certificate holder can exercise commercial -2nd class- privileges).
My last 2nd class cost about $80 (US). I’m told that a 3rd class can go for as little as $40, but I got my first two for free from work.
Is that amount paid to the FAA, or the doctor?
To the doctor.
Thank you - much appreciated.
Wow, prices have come down since I was a CFI. I paid $85 back in the early 90’s.
-Tcat
My latest 3rd class was $89.70 (plus $21.90 for the urine test). My insurance covered all but $11.88.
Brian
Dissenchanted by the latest medical fee hike in Australia Cabdude?
A third-class costs $67 here, but is covered by insurance as a simple physical checkup.
I have a special issuance due to a medical condition that requires annual rather than biannual (since I’m over 40, it would be triennial otherwise) renewal consisting only of submitting some blood test data - that can be done via a designated Aviation Medical Examiner (immediate but for a small fee), or via the FAA itself for free (but may take longer).
Am I THAT transparent?
One thing to consider:
Many pilots use a physician other than their regular doctor for their FAA medical. The less the FAA hears about you the better, and your regular doc has all the goods on you, for better or for worse.
snerk
Oh! I see what you mean.
It costs me $90 to see the doctor - and now the Gummint wants to charge me $135 to issue the medical certificate.
That’s right - it costs $90 for a highly trained medical professional to give his expert opinion on whether I am fit to fly or not, usually takes about 30 minutes.
$135 for a government clerk to update a computer, which automagically prints a letter verifying same.
Yes, yes you are :).
You may have noticed that they have three classes of medical in the USA rather than just the two that we have.
Yeah - they seem to have one for ATPL, one for CPL and one for PPL - something I wasn’t aware of.
Well, it’s 4 if you count “no official medical other than a driver’s license” needed for a Sport Pilot license, or for a higher rating operating under Sport Pilot privileges. To use a Student (solo) or Private license you need a 3rd class, to use a Commercial license (i.e. get paid for flying, anything short of airline transport work) is a 2nd class (nearly the same standards as a 3rd class but only good for 1 year), to use an Airline Transport Pilot license you need a 1st class, which is much more stringent and is only good for 6 months. Do you not have separate Commercial and ATP ratings either?
Doing the currency conversion, the new Oz prices aren’t all that different from US prices. There is no separate license fee as such here; to get a rating you take a checkride from a designated examiner (not an FAA employee) who collects a fee from you (it was $250 for my PPL checkride). The examiner sends all the paperwork in and you get the official card in a few months, replacing the temporary certificate the examiner gives you on the spot.
We have commercial and ATP licenses but the medical requirements for both are the same. A class 1 that is valid for one year. The validity period decreases once you are over a certain age (40?)
Fly gliders, write and sign your own medical! From the FAA