FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Regulations (14 CFR 117/121/61)Easy
A pilot holding an Airline Transport Pilot certificate is scheduled to serve as pilot in command on a Part 121 scheduled passenger flight. What class of medical certificate must the pilot currently hold to exercise PIC privileges?
- AThird-class medical certificate
- BFirst-class medical certificate
- CSecond-class medical certificate
- DBasicMed qualification only
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. First-class medical certificate
14 CFR 61.23(a)(1) requires a pilot to hold at least a first-class medical certificate to exercise the privileges of an ATP certificate as pilot in command in Part 121 operations. Lower classes or BasicMed do not satisfy this requirement for airline PIC duty.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Third-class is only sufficient for private pilot privileges.
- C. Second-class is sufficient for commercial PIC/SIC non-121 ops but not for ATP PIC duty.
- D. BasicMed cannot be used for Part 121 airline operations.
ATP Medical Requirement
To act as PIC exercising ATP privileges in Part 121 operations, a pilot must hold a current first-class medical certificate.
- 61.23(a)(1) sets medical class by certificate/privilege exercised
- First-class required for ATP PIC duty
- BasicMed and lower classes are not valid substitutes for Part 121 PIC
Memory trick: 'First Class for First Officer's Captain' — ATP PIC needs the top medical tier.