No More Medicals?

The FAA has released the medical requirements for the Pilots Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2) and quite frankly, I think it is a home run for general aviation, pilots, and the AOPA who fostered it through Congress. The new program is called BasicMed that is technically the FAAs implementation of medical requirements in the PBOR2 portion of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 known (of course) as FESSA. The final rule from the FAA, released January 10, 2017, and effective May 1, 2017, can be found on the FAA web site, FAA.gov.

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Wednesday, February 08, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

BasicMed is a new FAA program, effective May 1, 2017, providing an alternative to the Third Class Medical for general aviation pilots under specific operational limitations.
Eligible pilots must have held a valid medical certificate since July 15, 2006, possess a valid driver's license, and operate aircraft under 6,000 pounds, with no more than six occupants, below FL180, and not for compensation or hire or outside the U.S.
Maintaining BasicMed requires completing an approved medical education course every 24 months and undergoing a medical evaluation by a state-licensed physician every four years, with documentation kept by the pilot.
The program significantly streamlines medical processes for many pilots with Special Issuances by reducing recurring FAA-mandated testing and direct reporting to the FAA for conditions not on a specific severe list.

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The FAA has released the medical requirements for the Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2 (PBOR2) and quite frankly, I think it is a home run for general aviation, pilots, and the AOPA who fostered it through Congress. The new program is called BasicMed that is technically the FAA’s implementation of medical requirements in the PBOR2 portion of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 known (of course) as FESSA.

The final rule from the FAA, released January 10, 2017, and effective May 1, 2017, can be found on the FAA web site, FAA.gov. It truly reflects the spirit and intent of the PBOR2. The rule is 77 pages long to implement a 10-page law, reminding us that this is one government body responding to mandates from another.