AOPA details BasicMed rule
New third class medical reform rule takes effect May 1
As news of the third class medical reform final rule was released Jan. 10, pilots flooded social media and online forums with a flurry of excitement, and started contacting AOPA’s Pilot Information Center for more details pertaining to their specific flying situation.
“Much of the general aviation community is ecstatic about BasicMed,” AOPA President Mark Baker said of the new alternative to medical certification. “May 1 can’t get here soon enough!”
“We want to make it as easy as possible to understand and comply with BasicMed, so we’ve also created a wealth of Fit to Fly resources for pilots and physicians that further explain the rules,” Baker said.
AOPA created an interactive online quiz to help pilots determine whether they can participate in BasicMed as well as an expansive FAQ page. But many pilots have contacted AOPA with the same questions. Here are answers to the most common questions the association has received since the Jan. 10 announcement.
I want to fly under BasicMed on May 1, but how does my current medical certification factor into that?
Under BasicMed, pilots who have held a valid medical certificate any time in the decade prior to July 15, 2016, may not need to take another FAA medical exam. The 10-year lookback period applies to both regular and special issuance medicals.
In the final rule, the FAA explained that pilots whose medicals have expired should check the expiration of their most recent medical certificate to determine if they fall within the lookback period. The lookback applies to the expiration date of the medical certificate, which is determined using the “Date of Examination” on the certificate and the duration periods listed in 14 CFR 61.23(d). For those who had a regular medical certificate, the expiration date depends on their age—age 40 or over, or under 40—at the time of the exam. (Expiration dates are listed on special issuance certificates.)
“Persons age 40 or over on the date of their examination would meet the 10-year period described in FESSA if their examination was on or after July 15, 2004. This date is based on the two-year validity period for third class medical certificates issued to persons age 40 or over. Persons under age 40 on the date of their examination would meet the 10-year period described in FESSA if their examination was on or after July 15, 2003. This date is based on the three-year validity period for third class medical certificates issued to persons under 40 years of age that was in effect prior to 2008,” the rule states.
Pilots whose most recent medical certificate was revoked, suspended, or withdrawn or whose most recent application for a medical certificate was denied will need to obtain a new medical certificate (regular or special issuance) before they can operate under the reforms. Individuals who have never held an FAA issued medical certificate, such as new student pilots, will need to obtain an FAA issued medical certificate (regular or special issuance) one time only.
My medical expires before May 1. What should I do?
If your medical certificate expires before May 1 and in the meantime you wish to continue flying as pilot in command under recreational or higher certification levels, you must hold a current and valid medical certificate in order to continue exercising those privileges. Sport pilot privileges and light sport aircraft are still options for a driver’s license medical.
Pilots also have the option to let their medical certificate expire and not fly as pilot in command between the expiration of their medical certificate and the start of BasicMed on May 1. Pilots who opt to do this might consider flying with an instructor to keep their flying skills sharp during this period.
My medical certificate expires after May 1. Does that affect my ability to fly under BasicMed?
Pilots whose medical is still valid as of May 1 may opt to fly under BasicMed or their valid medical certificate. If pilots opt to fly under BasicMed, they will need to comply with the operating limitations listed in the rule. They also would need to have a physical exam, complete the associated checklists (and keep the paperwork in their logbook or a digital reproduction that can be shown upon request), and take an approved online aeromedical education course—all prior to flying under BasicMed.
I just got my medical certificate. Will that satisfy the requirements of BasicMed?
No, because BasicMed requires an exam by a state-licensed physician performed in accordance with the new rules, and the completion of the medical examination checklist. So, pilots’ third, second, or first class medical exams will not meet the requirement for the physical exam. Pilots could either fly under their current and valid medical, or take the steps outlined above to fly under BasicMed.
If I want to fly under BasicMed May 1, when do I need to go see my physician, complete the doctor’s checklist, and take the aeromedical course?
Pilots will need to complete the physical exam, associated checklists, and online medical education course before operating under BasicMed privileges. AOPA is working with the FAA to make the medical education course and physical exam checklist form available as soon as possible.
Can a physician’s assistant perform my physical and complete the checklist?
The FAA uses the term "physician extender" to include health care providers who are not physicians but who do perform medical activities that are also performed by physicians or on behalf of physicians. According to the FAA's frequently-asked-questions web page, "Physician extenders are generally nurse practitioners or physician assistants. Registered nurses, medical technicians, and medical support personnel may assist certain elements of an examination but are not considered physician extenders. Section 2307 of FESSA requires that the examination must be performed by a state-licensed physician, but the language of the statute did not specifically exclude participation of a physician extender. As long as the physician is the signatory for the medical checklist, he or she can delegate some or all elements of the actual physical exam to a physician extender."
Can my aviation medical examiner do the physical exam for BasicMed?
Aviation medical examiners are required to be state-licensed physicians, so pilots could continue to visit their AME for the physical exam required by BasicMed.
When will the online aeromedical course and doctor’s checklist be available?
The FAA is currently reviewing the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s online aeromedical education course. AOPA and the FAA are working together to bring the course online and ensure it meets all of the BasicMed medical education course requirements. AOPA will notify pilots as soon as the course is available. The FAA will hopefully release the doctor’s checklist as soon as possible as well.
Can I fly internationally (namely to Mexico or Canada) under BasicMed?
According to the rule (based on the legislation Congress created), flights under BasicMed “must be geographically limited to operations within the United States” unless pilots receive authorization from the country in which they will be flying. AOPA recommends calling its Pilot Information Center (800/USA-AOPA) or the country’s aviation authority to see what is needed to fly in that country.
Can I flight instruct under BasicMed?
Yes. The FAA has stated that “flight instructors meeting the requirements of this rule may act as PIC while giving flight training without holding a medical certificate, regardless of whether the person receiving flight training holds a medical certificate.” The FAA considers the flight instructor who is acting as PIC to be “receiving compensation for his or her flight instruction” under instructor privileges but is “exercising private pilot privileges while acting as PIC of the flight.”
AOPA offers answers to a host of member questions on its Fit to Fly FAQ page. Members are encouraged to contact AOPA’s Pilot Information Center (800/USA-AOPA) if they wish to discuss their specific situation one-on-one with an aviation specialist.
