BasicMed and the Sport Pilot
What is BasicMed? Do I need that to be a Sport Pilot?
Great questions. First let’s start with what I would call “the traditional” Medical Certificate. Medical Certificates are issued to pilots by Aviation Medicine Examiners (AME). They come in three tiers, each with less and less stringent criteria to meet. The type of Medical Certificate you need depends largely on the type of flying you are doing. To be a Captain on a large Commercial Airliner, you typically need a First Class Medical Certificate. To obtain a Commercial Pilot Certificate, you need to have a valid Second Class Medical Certificate. Ordinarily, you would need a Third Class Medical Certificate to obtain or exercise your privileges as a Private Pilot, at least before May 1st of 2017. That’s when “BasicMed” took effect.
“BasicMed” is a name given to the medical certification relief given under 14 CFR Part 68. To qualify, you must have previously obtained a valid Medical Certificate (First through Third class) after July 14, 2006. It may be expired or include an authorization for Special Issuance, but can’t be revoked, suspended, denied, withdrawn, etc. If you are in this boat and hold a valid US Driver’s License, then you can see an AME or your State-licensed physician, with a special examination checklist, take an online education course and receive a medical authorization under Part 68. The BasicMed authorization is good for 48 months (before your next exam) and requires you to complete refresher education every 24 months. If you experience certain medical conditions, such as heart, neurological or mental disorders, you may be required to apply for a Special Issuance. But if you comply with the requirements of BasicMed, you may never have to obtain an FAA Medical Certificate again.
Operations for pilots that transition to BasicMed are limited by 14 CFR Part 61.113(i). The restrictions include an aircraft weighing 6,000 lb or less and of 6 seats or less, operated at or below 18,000’ MSL and at or below 250 Knots Indicated Airspeed (KIAS) within the US (unless authorized by the foreign country). You must carry your logbook with the completed Medical Checklist and the Course Completion certificate from the Medical Education Course.
So how does that affect those students pursuing a Sport Pilot Certificate. Well, good news. All you need is a valid US Driver’s License, no BasicMed required. Of course, you can’t use this rule to get around a denied, withdrawn, revoked or suspended FAA Medical Certificate. And you can’t know or have reason to know of any medical condition that would make you unable to operate a light-sport aircraft in a safe manner. No doctors, just an honest self-assessment.
I hope this de-mystifies the BasicMed rule and how it affects Sport Pilots. AOPA has a great clearinghouse for BasicMed information, online education and FAQ’s. (https://www.aopa.org/advocacy/pilots/medical/basicmed) And of course, the FAA has lots of info on their site, including AC 68-1A which describes BasicMed as it applies to Student, Recreational and Private Pilot privileges. If you have any questions or comments, just email me at Fly@AmericanMadeAviation.com.