Assume you are departing on February 15 for a flight that requires you to have a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating. What is the lowest class of medical certification required, and what is the earliest date it could have been issued?

The lowest class of medical certificate is second class issued February 1st. of the previous year.

Explanation: There are three classes of medical certifications for pilots; such certificates are required to legally exercise the privileges of a Pilot exercising the privileges of either a Private, Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot license. Each certificate must be issued by a doctor approved by the Federal Aviation Administration to a person of stable physical and mental health. The three classes are

1. Third Class Medical Certificate: are necessary to exercise the privileges of a Private pilot license or certificate, or any lower pilot certification level. A third-class medical expires after 60 calendar months for someone under the age of forty years.

2. Second Class Medical Certificate: are necessary to exercise the privileges of a Commercial pilot license or certificate. It expires after 12 calendar months regardless of the pilot's age.

3. First Class Medical Certificate: are necessary to exercise the privileges of an airline transport pilot license or certificate. It expires after 12 calendar months for a pilot under 40, 6 months for pilots over 40.