A PLT FLEW AN SMA SEL ACFT TO A LOCATION TO TAKE AN FAA SEL COMMERCIAL RATING CHKRIDE. HE DISCOVERED THAT HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS NOT VALID DESPITE PREVIOUS INFO TO THE CONTRARY. HE WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN A VALID MEDICAL AND PASSED THE CHKRIDE THE NEXT DAY.

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I HAD APPROX 400 HRS TOTAL FLT TIME; WAS A COMMERCIAL PLT IN MULTI ENG; AND WANTED TO ADD SINGLE ENG PRIVILEGES TO MY COMMERCIAL TICKET. MY MEDICAL EXPIRED IN MAY/97. I READ A NUMBER OF MAGAZINES AND KNEW THAT LESS THAN 40 YRS OF AGE WOULD QUALIFY ME FOR A 3 YR MEDICAL. HOWEVER; THERE WAS LOTS OF CONFUSION IN MY MIND AS TO WHAT RULES WERE PROPOSED; WHAT HAD GONE INTO EFFECT; AND WHAT WAS SCHEDULED TO GO INTO EFFECT. I CALLED UP AOPA WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN HELPFUL WITH THESE QUESTIONS AND THEY STATED THAT YES; THAT LESS THAN 40 YRS OF AGE EQUALS A 3 YR RULE HAD BECOME EFFECTIVE LAST SEP/96 AND THAT YES; MY MEDICAL WOULD BE GOOD FOR 3 YRS. I WAS HAPPY TO KNOW I COULD AVOID THE EXTRA EXPENSE AND HASSLE OF RENEWING MY MEDICAL FOR ANOTHER YR. I RENTED AND TOOK DUAL INSTRUCTION FROM SEVERAL FBO'S/CLUBS AND PEOPLE PHOTOCOPIED MY MEDICAL WITHOUT QUESTION AS BEING VALID. I SUBMITTED FOR MY SINGLE ENG ADD-ON TO MY COMMERCIAL TICKET ONLY TO FIND THE FAA EXAMINER SAYING MY MEDICAL HAD EXPIRED. I DISAGREED AND STATED THAT IT WAS GOOD FOR 3 YRS. AFTER A FEW PHONE CALLS LATER TO THE FSDO; WE VERIFIED THAT ONLY FOR THOSE MEDICALS DONE AFTER 9/97 DID THE 3 YR RULE APPLY. I WAS SHOCKED. I HAVE TRIED TO KEEP UP ON ALL THE CHANGES AND WAS VERY SURPRISED I WAS NOT LEGAL TO FLY -- ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD RENTED AN AIRPLANE AND FLOWN IT TO THE EXAMINER IN ANOTHER TOWN TO TAKE MY CHKRIDE. I ALSO PAY FOR GOOD ACFT RENTER'S INSURANCE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED IF THERE HAD BEEN A PROB. I WAS ABLE TO RENT A CAR FOR 1 DAY AND FIND AN AME TO GET ME A MEDICAL SO I COULD FLY THE PLANE BACK. I PASSED MY CHKRIDE THE NEXT DAY. THIS PROB COULD CONTINUE TO OCCUR FOR OTHERS FOR 2 MORE YRS! MY EXAMINER STATED I KNEW JUST ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS! ALWAYS SEE THE FAR YOURSELF! KEEP A CURRENT COPY. THE FAA COULD HELP BY NOT MAKING CHANGES WITHOUT ADEQUATE NOTICE. EG; RELEASING CORRECTIONS 1 WK BEFORE THE DATE!