A third-class medical certificate was issued to a 19-year-old pilot on August 10 this year. To exercise privileges of a recreational or private pilot certificate, the medical certificate will expire at midnight on which date?

• A. August 31, 5 years later
• B. August 31, 1 year later
• C. August 10, 5 years later
• D. September 30, 5 years later

Answer: (A)

For a private or recreational pilot with a third-class medical who is under 40 at the time of the examination, the certificate is valid for 60 calendar months. The expiration is the last day of the month in which that 60th month ends, not the exact day 60 months later.

In this case, the medical was issued on August 10. Five years (60 months) later falls on August 10, but the month ends on August 31. Therefore the certificate expires at midnight on August 31, five years after issuance.