For private pilot operations, a second class medical certificate issued to a 42 year old pilot on July 15, this year, will expire at midnight on which date and how many years later?

• A. July 31, 2 years later
• B. July 31, 1 year later
• C. July 31, 5 years later
• D. July 30, 2 years later

Answer: (A)

The timer for a second-class medical certificate is tied to age. For pilots 40 or older, the certificate is valid for 2 years, with expiration occurring at the end of the month that marks the two-year anniversary of the issue date. Since it was issued on July 15 and the pilot is 42, the two-year period ends on July 15, but the certificate expires at the end of that month—July 31. So the certificate expires July 31, two years after issuance.