Are you ready for Basic Med? Should you switch?
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- For many pilots Basic Med is an alternative to the traditional FAA medical certificate. The system is valuable but has significant differences and considerations from the age old FAA medical you're used to. Pat and Jamie do a deep dive into what's good, what to watch out for, and what other options you have to fly legally from a medical perspective.
I started flying back in 2021 for the first time in eight years. I always dreaded getting a medical certificate since I am on blood pressure medication and medication for type two diabetes. I was able to obtain special issues and had a third class medical, but had to see the doctor every year because it was only good for 12 months Pending that he saw from my primary care physician that I did not change prescriptions, add medication or have any changes in my lab work. This was rather expensive or I had to pay to have the medical done and then I had to pay half the price a year later to continue it onto the second year. I obtained my BFR about six months ago and my CFI told me about basic med. He said you can be a CFI or a CFII with BasicMed. This was a whole lot easier and not only that it is good for four years. That is the same time that the chief flight examiner authorized my AME it issue a third class with SI. With basic med there are restrictions. First you must of had a least a third class medical that was not revoked and was issued I believe after 2006. Second, you cannot act as piloting command at altitudes above FL180, fly faster than 250 kn, fly aircraft with a gross weight above 6000 pounds and that has a maximum of six seats. Since I knew I was never going to fly professionally or fly up in class an airspace or be PIC with a high-performance plane that could obtain that speed. This was the best option for me.
Having options is always better than not having options. We owe a big tip of the hat to the FAA for providing this alternative that works so well for so many of us.
I heard that basic med was a congressional action because the FAA refused to act to help people fly with medical situations other than perfection. Need to continue to research but I believe thanking the FAA for basic med is a mistake.
Hey great video as always! I was wondering if you would do a video on what Pilot Protective Services is and what it can do for me? I don’t know anything about it.
After you complete the online course and download the certificate, you also get a wallet size card that shows you have completed the BasicMed course and the date. I carry that wallet card with my pilot certificate.
Please help me understand this clearly - If I have no certificate that requires a medical, and I want to start training for PP-airplane, I initially need to get a third-class medical, and THEN I can convert to BasicMed? I.e., I cannot start PP training on BasicMed alone.
Correct. You'll need a 3rd Class Medical to take the Private Pilot practical test. After that you can either go to BasicMed, stick with the 3rd Class Medical, or (assuming the Reauthorization Bill is enacted) fly the aircraft you would have flown as a Private Pilot, using the Sport Pilot privileges of your certificate.
Some clarifications and suggestions :
1- When asked why he has both the 3rd and Basic Med he only gave one reason. He said a good reason to have a 3rd and Basic Med is because if they defer the 3rd then you can still fly under Basic Med. Well then just get Basic Med and forget the 3rd because if that 3rd gets denied then you lose both the 3rd AND the possibility of immediately using Basic Med.
2- Going to the AME for a consultation and thinking that doctor/patient privilege is in effect and nothing goes to the FAA is correct BUT if you later go get Basic Med and don't disclose that issue, now you're guilty of 18USC1001 because you lied on the form when you said you knew of nothing that would disqualify you. Be careful and be honest !
3- The FAA change/clarification about flying as safety pilot while under Basic Med was recent but you could always teach with Basic Med.
I noticed that some pilots have “Basic Med Yes” on their airmen’s information on the FAA site. How does this information get transmitted to the FAA for entry into the database?
There are multiple steps to the BasicMed process, all of which are controlled by the user - you. First you'll take an online course, such as the one AOPA offers at no cost. That course concludes with a quiz. You'll print out a small packet after that which you can present to the medical professional conducting your BasicMed exam. With the signature of that medical professional you can complete the process online, and that information is transferred to the FAA. None of your medical records go to the feds, just the fact that you've completed the process and now qualify for BasicMed.
I have a 3rd class SI that requires me to get a stress test every year. If I go basic med, and not supply the FAA with my yearly medical paperwork can and will they revoke the 3rd class privileges and disqualify me from being Basic Med capable?
That's a question better posed to an AME or the FAA medical office. Of course if you're an AOPA member you could always call to talk with one of their medical staff. They've got a good track record of being on top of things. Our opinion on your specific question is...probably. Basic med is valid even for pilots who were operating under a special issuance. Whether your particular case would make Basic Med a valid choice is a decision that comes in above the guy's pay grade.
You guys put out some great content.
Thank you. We try to produce content you'll find useful and entertaining. If you're happy, we're happy.
I also did BasicMed with my primary doctor since my AME wouldn't. He hadn't heard of the program but was surprised how easy it was for him too.
It's a revelation for all involved, isn't it? A wonderful newish avenue for many of us to consider when we come up on the date of our medical renewals.
Someone like me who goes to the doctor every six months to monitor everything I’ve already paid my medical co-pay for that mini physical, prescription, renewal, etc. This way if you look at it, a basic med is generally free. Sure beats spending $150 every two years at the AME and then an additional $50 midway to extend the third class to its normal expiration. If I ever need to re-obtain a FAA medical for employment, at least I have that option right now.
When searching for a DME will I ever find a DME who would NOT be on the FAA Data base server? but does perform them...What is comes down to is they have other medical practices of other concern that they specialize in and they are just too busy....
That may be an FAA question. A new DME will eventually show up in the listing but the lag time isn’t known to us. A call to your local FSDO might get you s better answer.