Who can request a pilot or medical certificate for inspection?

The correct answer indicates that a person in a position of authority has the ability to request a pilot or medical certificate for inspection. This is aligned with aviation regulations, which grant specific individuals, including those in defined leadership roles, the authority to access sensitive information related to pilots’ certifications.

The reasoning behind this is rooted in the need for oversight and enforcement in aviation safety practices. Regulatory bodies and officials are tasked with ensuring compliance with federal aviation regulations, and as such, certain persons in authority are empowered to facilitate inspections, thereby maintaining safety and accountability in aviation operations.

In contrast, while the Administrator and representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board or the Department of Transportation indeed have the authority to request such documents, the scope of the original question seems to focus on broader authority figures rather than those specifically aligned with those federal bodies. Airline representatives, on the other hand, typically do not have inspection authority unless delegated specific powers, and law enforcement officers' roles in this context can vary widely, generally involving enforcement rather than direct requests for documentation like pilot or medical certificates unless under specific circumstances.