A third-class-medical certificate is issued to a 51 year old pilot on May 3, this year. To exercise the privileges of a Private Pilot Certificate, the medical certificate will be valid until midnight on which date and how many years later?

• A. May 31, 2 years later
• B. May 31, 5 years later
• C. May 3, 2 years later
• D. May 31, 3 years later

Answer: (A)

Age determines how long a third-class medical certificate remains valid for a private pilot. For pilots who are 40 or older, the medical certificate is valid for 24 calendar months from the month of the examination, and the expiration is the last day of that month. With an issue date of May 3, the 24-month period ends in May two years later, so the expiration is the last day of May, which is May 31. Therefore, the certificate remains valid until midnight on May 31, two years after the issue date.