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, functioning more like a flight review than a traditional medical exam.
Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) performing BasicMed exams are considered medical providers rather than FAA designees, leading to a lack of FAA protection and increased personal liability.
The final Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC) was modified from its draft version to comply with HIPAA rules, now requiring doctors only to check off that a system was examined, not to report abnormalities.
BasicMed should be promoted as a legitimate fourth type of FAA medical, offering substantial flight privileges and a four-year validity period, which can be advantageous even for pilots eligible for a Third-class medical.

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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.