For the class 1, it says it is valid for 1 year under the age of 40, but the transport canada Dr. that I saw said mine would be valid for 5 years, because I was 18 at the time I got it, and I wanted to ask here just to see if that sounds right?

not for a cat 1, 1 year when your under 40, every 6 months over 40

what you are describing is a cat 3 medical. 5 years under 40.

So i've been using an expired medical for my ppl training?

No. A student pilot permit is valid for 5 years from
the date of the medical.

However, if you wish to write a PPL written, or take
a PPL flight test, you must have a valid class 3 medical.

I wrote the ppl exam, and now I realize it may have been expired

redwing wrote:I wrote the ppl exam, and now I realize it may have been expired

As long as the medical was less than 5 years before the exam, it wasn't expired

So would my class 1, become a class 3?

Yes a category 1 automatically becomes a category 3 after 1 year and is good for another 4 years for a total of 5 years

deflux wrote:Yes a category 1 automatically becomes a category 3 after 1 year and is good for another 4 years for a total of 5 years

^ nail on the head

Jeez there's a lot of people who get this wrong. Cat 1 validity is based on the license held, NOT the medical. If you look at CAR 424.04(3), you'll find that it say nothing about how long a Cat 1 is valid for. It does, however, say how long your medical (whatever type you hold) is valid for, as that category. For example, if you hold a CPL or ATPL, your Cat 1 is good for 1 year/6 months. If you hold a PPL, your Cat 1 would be a Cat 1 for 5 years/2 years (not cat 3 at any point). If you had been assessed to a Cat 3 level and had a PPL, you would be valid for 5 years/2 years.

People think that a Cat 1 is only valid for 1 year because it is required for a CPL to hold it (and for them it is valid for 1year/6 months). However, that 1 year/6 month limit is only applicable to the CPL/ATPL holder, not a PPL, student pilot, or whomever else has one.

Again, your medical validity is based off the license held, NOT the medical category. It does not lapse, it does not change. If you hold a Cat 1, at no point does it change to a Cat 3 (unless you get reassessed to a Cat 3 level).

hairdo wrote:Jeez there's a lot of people who get this wrong. Cat 1 validity is based on the license held, NOT the medical. If you look at CAR 424.04(3), you'll find that it say nothing about how long a Cat 1 is valid for. It does, however, say how long your medical (whatever type you hold) is valid for, as that category. For example, if you hold a CPL or ATPL, your Cat 1 is good for 1 year/6 months. If you hold a PPL, your Cat 1 would be a Cat 1 for 5 years/2 years (not cat 3 at any point). If you had been assessed to a Cat 3 level and had a PPL, you would be valid for 5 years/2 years.

People think that a Cat 1 is only valid for 1 year because it is required for a CPL to hold it (and for them it is valid for 1year/6 months). However, that 1 year/6 month limit is only applicable to the CPL/ATPL holder, not a PPL, student pilot, or whomever else has one.

Again, your medical validity is based off the license held, NOT the medical category. It does not lapse, it does not change. If you hold a Cat 1, at no point does it change to a Cat 3 (unless you get reassessed to a Cat 3 level).

While you are correct, this is a confusing way of wording it for someone just starting out. It kind of implies that a CPL after year 1 cannot do any flying, while if they had a PPL they would be good up to 5 years.

A Cat 1 does not change to a Cat 3 after 1 year. However, you can only exercise the privileges of a Cat 1 from year 0-1 and the privileges of a Cat 3 from year 1-5. So in essence it really doesn't matter how you look at it.

To the original poster: If you are working on your PPL you are fine and nothing was expired.

BTD

Yeah BTD, I was a bit tired when I posted, so the wording was not completely coherent. Anyhoo, it's just been a pet peeve of mine when people say that it changes from cat 1 to 3 after a year and so on when it does not.

Bottom line for the OP: your TC MD is right, cat 1 for SPP/PPL, 5 years (if you're under 40).

Hi,

Could somebody confirm if I got it right.

I am 33 y.o. and just started my PPL training, after which I plan to start CPL training right away. So, right now my Cat 1 medical is valid for 5 years, but as soon as I pass my CPL exams (approx 2 years from now) it will become valid for 1 year, and the next time I'll have to do another medical exam is 1 year after I get my CPL?

I am in a similar situation as Mike, I did my cat 1 back in the spring before i started getting serious about my build up hours to make sure I am qualified to fly commercially. So now I have my ppl and intend on getting my cpl by next spring or early summer, aproximately 1 year after I got my cat 1. So when I get my cpl does the medical become valid for one more year from that date or from the date I did the medical examination (making it essentially expired on the spot)?

thanks
JP

jpar84

The rules that govern your situation are clearly covered in the CARs. Since you want to be a commercial pilot I highly recommend you familarize your self with the CAR's.
In fact since you in essence have asks for "instuction" on this forum, this Class 1 instructor is going to give you some homework. You are to research the CAR's and post on this site a copy of that part of the CAR's which applies to your situation. And best of all your increased understanding of the applicable regs will be obtained completely free of charge. What a deal !

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The one year validity begins at any point you intend on using your CPL privileges (or flight test/written for the CPL) from the date of your medical examination. If you hold a CPL, you may still exercise the privileges of a PPL with your cat 1 (but NOT CPL) beyond 1 year.

mike123 wrote:Hi,

Could somebody confirm if I got it right.

I am 33 y.o. and just started my PPL training, after which I plan to start CPL training right away. So, right now my Cat 1 medical is valid for 5 years, but as soon as I pass my CPL exams (approx 2 years from now) it will become valid for 1 year, and the next time I'll have to do another medical exam is 1 year after I get my CPL?

It's already has been said very clearly previously but anyway: You're under 40 so your class 1 is valid for 12 months after the "Medical Exam Date" (not Issued date). After that your class 1 automatically becomes a class 3. Class 3 is what's needed for you PPL. Class 1 is for commercial.

Basically, after one year your medical (class 3 now) can only be used to fly as a private pilot (for 4 more years). So make sure you have your class 1 renewed before you get your CPL.

One thing I'm not sure: do you need your class 1 before you go do the CPAER or the CPL Flight Test? I'm guessing you do but I might be mistaken.

hairdo wrote:The one year validity begins at any point you intend on using your CPL privileges (or flight test/written for the CPL) from the date of your medical examination. If you hold a CPL, you may still exercise the privileges of a PPL with your cat 1 (but NOT CPL) beyond 1 year.

Thanks Hairdo, next time BP gives me a homework assignment I might have to cheat off you

cheers!

deleted because I am just wasting bandwidth responding to jpar84. My apologies to the Avcanada readership.

yvanddivans wrote:One thing I'm not sure: do you need your class 1 before you go do the CPAER or the CPL Flight Test? I'm guessing you do but I might be mistaken.

From flight test guide CPL:

For admission to a flight test required for the issuance of a Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane, or a complete re-test, and to meet the requirements of CAR Standard 421.14, the candidate will present:

c. proof of meeting the medical standards for the Commercial Pilot Licence,

It's already has been said very clearly previously but anyway: You're under 40 so your class 1 is valid for 12 months after the "Medical Exam Date" (not Issued date). After that your class 1 automatically becomes a class 3. Class 3 is what's needed for you PPL. Class 1 is for commercial.

Basically, after one year your medical (class 3 now) can only be used to fly as a private pilot (for 4 more years). So make sure you have your class 1 renewed before you get your CPL.

This above all correct, except that your class 1 medical remains a class 1 after the first year. However, you can only excericse the priviledges of a class 3 medical after the first year up to year 5. So the point is basically moot, but technically its still a class 1.

Thanks for the clarifications BTD!

jpar84 wrote: I seem to have failed my homework assignment

I don't think BPF's response to you was unreasonable, based on your original question. I've used that response lots of times with students who wanted to be spoon fed answers. Looking it up for yourself will probably make you remember it better than just telling you the answer. I'd have given you the references for where to look.

If you came back and said that you tried, but are confused about a point or two, that's fine, I'd help to clarify that, but your post sounded like you didn't really want to be bothered to look.

Although there is some very good advice here, you'd be wise to cross check any answers you get from an internet forum. There's also a lot of complete nonsense. See the 25 mile requirement for cross country in another thread for an example.

Cheers.

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