BasicMed Goes Live

I found the article on BasicMed (BasicMed Takes Effect, May 2017) very interesting. Im a big promoter of BasicMed and of AMEs doing BasicMed exams. I fully realize the article was written prior to the FAA issuing its final checklist (Form 8700-2), but allow me to share some observations.

Editorial Staff

Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

BasicMed offers the significant advantage that it cannot be denied or deferred, meaning pilots cannot "fail" it, and an unsatisfactory outcome simply results in no endorsement.
Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) conducting BasicMed exams act as medical providers, not FAA designees, and are therefore "on their own" regarding liability without FAA protection.
The final Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) was revised from its draft version to avoid HIPAA violations, now requiring doctors only to check off that systems were examined rather than reporting abnormalities.
BasicMed, valid for four years for pilots over 40, should be recognized as a legitimate "fourth FAA medical" providing flight privileges and can be strategically combined with a Third-class medical certificate.

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I found the article on BasicMed (“BasicMed Takes Effect,” May 2017) very interesting. I’m a big promoter of BasicMed and of AMEs doing BasicMed exams. I fully realize the article was written prior to the FAA issuing its final checklist (Form 8700-2), but allow me to share some observations.

One of the biggest advantages of BasicMed is that it cannot be denied or deferred. This is huge. It is like a flight review or an instrument proficiency check—a pilot cannot fail them. If the results are not satisfactory, the CFI simply does not endorse the logbook.