"Ken Balch" wrote in message
...
[...] Only a third class medical
is required if the CFI is to be acting as PIC (as when giving primary
instruction).

As long as the CFI is being paid to act as PIC (and they are, in the case of
primary training) a commercial certificate is required. If you believe
otherwise, please feel free to quote the portion of the FARs that allows a
pilot to be paid to act as PIC as an instructor without having a commercial
certificate.

If the 'student' is a certificated pilot and can act as
PIC, then no medical is required for the CFI at all.

Yes, this much is true, I think we all understand it, and there's no need to
belabor that point.

Pete