Page 20 - Delaware Medical Journal - June 2017
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BasicMed: Medical Certification for the Private Pilot Using a Physician of Their Choice Brett Elliott, MD
Prior to May 1, 2017, private pilots were required by
the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to obtain their medical certification from a designated Airman Medical Examiner (AME). Subsequent to this date the AME option is still available; however pilots may also elect to receive medical certification to fly by using a physician of their choice. A comparison between the AME process and this new option the FAA calls BasicMed is presented, along with an approach the primary care physician may take when asked to medically certify a pilot.
Introduction On July 15, 2016, President Obama signed The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (FESSA).1 In this legislation, Section 2307 provides most private pilots, student pilots, recreational pilots, and under certain alternative, called BasicMed, was implemented by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) on May 1, 2017.
by an Airman Medical Examiner (AME).
SUMMARY OF THE ONLY OPTION FOR PRIVATE PILOTS PRIOR TO MAY 1, 2017
Private Pilots under the age of 40 had to obtain a Class Three Medical
from an FAA designated AME. AMEs are physicians who have initially taken a one-week FAA training seminar followed by periodic AME reviews the applicant’s history and completes a physical exam signs an attestation statement certifying that the individual does or
code of federal regulations. Typically, if the requirements are met, a
of the time. When requirements are not met, sometimes a restricted
2017 they may use BasicMed in lieu of the AME process. If the pilot ops for BasicMed, the individual and certifying physician must meet the following requirements:
SUMMARY OF BASICMED FOR THE PILOT
1. The applicant must have a valid state issued driver’s license and abide by any restrictions on it, such as “corrective lenses” or “daylight only”.
valid at any time after July 15, 2006, and the most recent application
withdrawn.
physical and subsequently received a Special Issuance Medical
following conditions:
Cardiac:
Myocardial Infarction
Coronary Artery Disease Requiring Treatment Cardiac Valve Replacement
Heart Replacement
Mental conditions:
Personality Disorder
Psychosis
Bipolar Disorder Substance Dependence
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Del Med J | June 2017 | Vol. 89 | No. 6
Abstract
