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MEDICAL

BasicMed Disqualifying Conditions FAQs

Medical and Non-Medical Causes

In this Section
BasicMed Overview
Disqualifying Conditions
Flying Under BasicMed

Common reasons for someone to not qualify to fly under BasicMed can include but are not limited to the following issues:

  1. You do not have a current and valid U.S. driver's license.
    • Canadian or Mexican driver's licenses do not currently qualify for use under BasicMed Reform.
  2. You have never held an FAA-issued medical certificate.
    • You are required to have had a medical exam by an Aviation Medical Examiner and have been issued at least one FAA-issued medical certificate before you can be eligible to fly under BasicMed.
    • You will need to have a medical exam by an Aviation Medical Examiner and obtain an FAA-issued medical certificate before you can be eligible to fly under BasicMed.
  3. Your most recent FAA-issued medical certificate was not valid after July 14, 2006.
    • You are required to have had an FAA-issued medical certificate valid after July 14, 2006, to be eligible to fly under BasicMed.
    • You will need to have a medical exam by an Aviation Medical Examiner and obtain a new FAA-issued medical certificate before you can be eligible to fly under BasicMed.
    • In 2008, the FAA extended the validity period of medicals for pilots under 40. To help determine your eligibility for BasicMed based on your most recent medical issue date use these guidelines:
      • Persons age 40 or over on the date of their FAA examination would meet the BasicMed requirement if their examination was on or after July 15, 2004.
      • Persons under age 40 on the date of their FAA examination would meet the BasicMed requirement if their examination was on or after July 15, 2003.
  4. You are not sure of the expiration date of your last FAA-issued medical certificate.
  5. Your most recent FAA-issued medical certificate was suspended, revoked, denied, or your most recent authorization for special issuance was withdrawn.
    • You will need to have a medical exam by an Aviation Medical Examiner and obtain a new FAA-issued medical certificate before you can be eligible to fly under BasicMed.
  6. You were diagnosed with or have had a certain medical event or condition.
Q: How do I educate my doctor about the checklist before asking for him/her to sign it?

We suggest that you share information about BasicMed and the exam steps before your scheduled CMEC exam.

AOPA has developed a guide to BasicMed for Pilots and Doctors to help both pilots and doctors understand the regulations and their responsibilities. You can share the PDF or the direct link to the Physicians Guide To BasicMed here on the AOPA website directly with the doctor BEFORE your exam. But remember that you, the pilot, also needs to be ready for the conversation and a good way to do that is to explore AOPA’s online BasicMed Resources or contact the AOPA's Pilot Information Center at (888) 462-3976, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, or email [email protected].

Q: I understand I will need to get a one-time special issuance medical if I have certain medical conditions. What are those conditions?

Persons who have a medical history of, or are diagnosed with, the conditions described below as identified by the FAA, may not use BasicMed until they have been seen by an FAA Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and have been granted a special issuance medical certificate by the FAA. If they previously held a special issuance medical certificate for any condition below, it must have been valid on or after July 15, 2006 for the pilot to be eligible for BasicMed.

Conditions Requiring an FAA Authorization for Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate:

I. Mental Health - A mental health disorder, limited to an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:

  • Personality disorder that is severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts.
  • Psychosis, defined as a case in which an individual:
    • Has manifested delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of psychosis; or
    • May reasonably be expected to manifest delusions, hallucinations, grossly bizarre or disorganized behavior, or other commonly accepted symptoms of psychosis.
  • Bipolar disorder.
  • Substance dependence within the previous 2 years.

Furthermore, the FAA’s new medical rules do not apply to an individual with a clinically diagnosed mental health condition if, in the judgment of the individual’s state-licensed physician, the condition:

  • Renders the individual unable to safely perform the duties of or exercise the privileges of a pilot in command of a small aircraft under the FAA’s new medical rules;
  • May reasonably be expected to make the individual unable to safely perform the duties of or exercise the privileges of a pilot in command of a small aircraft under the FAA’s new medical rules; or
  • The individual’s driver’s license is revoked by the issuing agency as a result of a clinically diagnosed mental health condition.

II. Neurological – A neurological disorder, limited to an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:

  • Epilepsy.
  • Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.
  • A transient loss of control of nervous system functions without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause.

Furthermore, an individual with a clinically diagnosed neurological condition is prohibited from exercising BasicMed privileges if, in the judgment of the individual's state-licensed physician, the condition:

  • Renders the individual unable to safely perform the duties of or exercise the privileges of a pilot in command of a small aircraft under the FAA's new medical rules; or
  • May reasonably be expected to make the individual unable to safely perform the duties of or exercise the privileges of a pilot in command of a small aircraft under the FAA's new medical rules; or
  • If the individual's driver's license is revoked by the issuing agency as a result of a clinically diagnosed neurological condition.

III. Cardiovascular – A cardiovascular condition, limited to a one-time special issuance for each diagnosis of the following:

  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack).
  • Coronary heart disease that has required treatment.
  • Cardiac valve replacement.
  • Heart replacement.

Call AOPA's Pilot Information Center at (800) 872-2672, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, or email [email protected]. Please identify yourself as someone looking for assistance with special issuances requirements for BasicMed.

Q: Where can I find a list of all the disallowed medications?

The BasicMed regulation does not include an FAA defined list of disallowed medications. It places the responsibility on the pilot and their doctor to determine if the medications that are being taken would limit a pilot's ability to be PIC. REMEMBER: Medications can respond differently in your body on the ground than in the air. You need to have an honest conversation with the prescribing medical professional.

Review More BasicMed FAQs