As an aviation medical examiner (AME) Dr. Frank Marinkovich has been designated by the local aviation authority and given the authority to perform flight physical examinations and issue aviation medical certificates. As an AME Dr. Frank is a practitioner of aviation medicine, although he is also qualified in other medical specialties.
There are 3 types of AME’s, they are:
- Third Class Certificate: Necessary to exercise the privileges of a Private pilot license or certificate, or any lower pilot certification level except for the FAA’s Sport pilot certificate(which only requires the same medical clearance required to drive a car, as evidenced by a valid driver license). In the United States, a third-class medical expires after 60 calendar months for someone under the age of forty years (as of the date of examination), or 24 calendar months for someone over forty.
- Second Class Certificate: Necessary to exercise the privileges of a Commercial pilot license or certificate. In the United States, it expires after 12 calendar months regardless of pilot age.
- First Class Certificate: necessary to exercise the privileges of an airline transport pilot license or certificate. In the United States, it expires after 12 calendar months for a pilot under 40, 6 months for pilots over 40.
Medical certificates higher than the minimum requirement for a pilot license level still allow the holder to exercise the privileges at that level, even after the initial class of medical certification has expired. For instance, a pilot holding a valid first-class medical certificate may operate a plane with the privilege level of a private or commercial pilot. These privileges may be exercised until the date that a medical certificate of the minimum required class would expire; 9 months after issuance of a first-class medical, a pilot over 40 could still use the certificate to operate as a commercial or private/recreational pilot, and could still operate as a private or recreational pilot up to 2 years after issuance.
*For more information on receiving your flight certification, contact our office at: (425) 899-2525 or email us at office@eastsidefamilyhealth.org