Licensing, Medical Certification and Flight Rules
Licensing and medical
Part 61 governs licences, ratings and recent experience. An instrument rating is held with a pilot licence and must be current; recency generally requires instrument time and approaches within the prescribed period. Part 67 governs medical certification. Class 1 is required for commercial operations; Class 2 for private privileges, subject to the specific rule. A medical certificate has an expiry date and may carry limitations. Carry your licence, medical and logbook as required.
Flight rules
VFR requires visual meteorological conditions and cloud clearance; IFR requires an instrument rating, an IFR-equipped aircraft, an ATC clearance and, where required, a flight plan. In controlled airspace, IFR flights are separated by ATC. In Class G, IFR pilots must provide their own separation and use the published procedures. Special VFR may be available at controlled aerodromes by day; it does not authorise IMC flight.
Worked example
A PPL(A) with instrument rating and Class 2 medical plans a night IFR cross-country. Licence and rating: yes. Medical: Class 2 valid for private IFR. Recency: check instrument experience. Aircraft: IFR equipped. Route: file IFR and obtain clearance. If the medical has expired, the flight is not authorised even if the rating is current.
Traps
Do not confuse licence validity with rating currency. Do not assume a Class 2 medical supports commercial IFR. Do not fly VFR into IMC; a clearance does not change VFR minima. Do not overlook logbook endorsement and aircraft type requirements.