BasicMed for pilots is an alternative way for pilots to fly, without holding a FAA Medical Certificate, provided certain conditions are met.
If you have NEVER held an FAA-issued medical certificate, you are NOT eligible to fly under BasicMed.
What do you need to qualify for BasicMed? What are its limitations?
Knowing what you must disclose and what you do not have to disclose can help protect you from the rigors of obtaining a FAA medical certificate under certain health conditions.
A consultation with a Barnett Law Offices aviation attorney can answer your questions.
What Are The Criteria for an Airman to Obtain BasicMed?
1. A Third-Class medical certificate or special issuance medical certificate held any time after July 14, 2006.
If you held a first class medical before 2006, that has downgraded to a third class, this may satisfy the requirement.
If an airman holds an unrestricted medical certificate, either expired or current, and wants to transition to a BasicMed certificate, the first criteria to consider is whether any new health conditions have arisen since the First, Second or Third Class medical certificate was issued.
If any of the following conditions occur, the airman must disclose them to the FAA prior to the transition to BasicMed.
Conditions Requiring Special Issuance Authorization To FAA Before Transitioning To BasicMed
Mental Health:
(i) Personality disorder severe enough to have repeatedly manifested itself by overt acts
(ii) Psychosis
(iii) Bipolar disorder
(iv) Substance dependence within the previous 2 years
Neurologic:
(i) Epilepsy
(ii) Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause
(iii) A transient loss of control of nervous system functions without satisfactory medical explanation of the cause
Cardiac:
(i) Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
(ii) Coronary heart disease that has required treatment
(iii) Cardiac valve replacement
(iv) Heart replacement
2. A current and valid U.S. driver’s license and comply with all its medical requirements.
3. Your most recent medical certificate has not been suspended at any time, revoked or Special Issuance Authorization withdrawn.
4. Your most recent FAA medical application has not been denied.
5. Complete an FAA-approved online BasicMed education course with completion certificate (every 24 months): Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) or The Mayo Clinic.
6. Complete a Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) found here.
7. Exam with a state-licensed physician (preferably your regular treating physician) every 48 months.
The FAA requires a physician to sign an Attestation Statement including: Discussed all items on the checklist and any medications that could interfere with operating aircraft or motor vehicle; Performed examination on all items on the checklist; Certify: “not aware of any medical condition that, as presently treated, could interfere with the individual’s ability to safely operate an aircraft.”
8. You will also need to attest to your health and consent to a National Driver Registry check.
The Basics of BasicMed
As a BasicMed holder, you cannot:
- Fly an aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of no more than 12,500 lbs.
- Carry more than 7 occupants
- Carry more than six passengers on your aircraft
- Operate under BasicMed outside of the U.S.
- Operate your aircraft outside of the U.S. (**BasicMed has been recognized by Mexico, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and various U.S. territories)
- Fly above 18,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) – keep this in mind if your flight plan calls for you to fly over high terrain or in questionable weather.
- Exceed 250 knots of true airspeed
- Operate for compensation or for hire – if you are a flight instructor, you may receive compensation for teaching but not for piloting the aircraft.
Scenarios In Which An Airman Can Transition From A 3rd Class Medical To BasicMed
Example 1:
“I had a heart attack in 2008 and the FAA issued me a special issuance, but I let it lapse. I have had no other medical problems. Can I use BasicMed?”
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- A: Yes. As long as you have had not had another heart attack or developed another new condition requiring going through the process for a special issuance identified in section 68.9, you may use BasicMed.
Example 2:
Airman received a MIP when they were 18 in the 1990s. Airman disclosed the MIP on their Third-Class medical application in January 2010. Airman holds Third-Class medical. Airman received a DUI arrest in November 2010. Airman did not renew medical certificate. Airman’s DL was not suspended or revoked. Airman received deferred adjudication on the DUI (it goes away after 1-year probation). Can airman use BasicMed?
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- A: The airman may need to disclose an alcohol education class, or other conditions of probation, but the airman is still eligible for BasicMed.
Example 3: BasicMed in a DUI Case
A general aviation pilot recently experienced a DUI, making him extremely fearful of what’s to come. The court case has been adjudicated to a reckless driving charge, with 1-year probation and no action taken on his driver’s license. If a physician certifies the pilot as healthy, he may be able to apply for BasicMed and does not have to report the DUI issue.
The question is, can a pilot transition to BasicMed and obtain a BasicMed without disclosing a DUI event.
When you Bring Aboard Barnett, you won’t have to try to understand all of the rules of disclosure and BasicMed eligibility. Barnett Law Offices has the depth of knowledge on BasicMed regulations and understands disclosure requirements and how to apply them to your specific case.
Get more than the basics on BasicMed. Bring Aboard Barnett.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. You are responsible for ensuring your compliance with the BasicMed rules.
