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2024 FAA Classes & Certification Updates

January 31, 2024

Updates from chief pilot, Kevin Mcdonald

 Replacing the annual calendar means new opportunities and new questions about renewing medical certificates and documentation required for the 2024 season. 

Here’s a few points of interest to take note of:
  • The FAA shifted drone operator medical certificate requirements from Class 2 to Class 3 in 2023.
  • All medical certificates expire on the last day of the month that the certificate was issued with a 12-month validity period, regardless of an operator’s age.
  • If you’re under 40, your Class 2 certification automatically converts to Class 3 certification extending validity for an additional 48 months before renewal is required. If you wish to maintain a Class 2 medical, you must renew it prior to the 12-month expiration date. 
  • If you’re over 40, your Class 2 certification automatically turns into a Class 3 certification validity of only 12 months, prompting the need for timely renewal. 
  • If you turn 40 within the 48-month additional validity period, you must renew your  Class 3 medical no later than the last day of the month that you turn 40, or after 24 months have passed since it was issued, depending on which of these two events occurs later.
  • Existing certification restrictions continue during the transition, but capabilities are unaffected, and no additional paperwork or fees are required.  
For those currently with a recently expired Class 2 medical, or one that will expire in the coming months, the FAA Medical Renewal Decision Chart below will help guide your decision-making. 
 
To learn more about 2024 FAA updates, watch our recent webinar.

If you have additional questions about how these updates will affect you, please feel free to contact us at support@rantizo.com 

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