President's Position: A New Era

It’s an exciting time for general aviation now that so many pilots, old and new, have a much-anticipated and improved medical certification process. Although not perfect, BasicMed will greatly reduce many of the unnecessary costs and burdens pilots previously faced.

We have heard from many of the new BasicMed pilots, and so far, the stories have been overwhelmingly positive and inspiring. One pilot we spoke to from Tyler, Texas, who had given up on the often-frustrating special issuance process, found BasicMed easier to navigate; it allowed him to get back to enjoying his passion for aviation and flying with his wife.

Another member wrote in telling us he now considers May 1 the date of his second solo milestone. “May 1, 2017, is now a special day for me. It is the date of my second ‘first solo’ flight, 40-plus years and a couple thousand flight hours after my very first ‘first solo.’” He also wrote that he has been “dominated by a major sense of how incredibly lucky I am.’”

Another member who has gone through the special issuance process numerous times said he was looking forward to BasicMed rather than being forced to “bet the farm” on another third class medical after his last one expired a few months ago.

One AOPA member of almost 30 years was recently diagnosed with Type II diabetes and shared with us his excitement for how “BasicMed has lifted a burden off my shoulders,” after his diagnosis. He no longer feels the stress of jumping “through the hoops to get all of the documentation every year” or feels rushed to get the required paperwork completed properly and on time. He is thrilled that he can now get cleared by his family doctor, who is familiar with his medical history.

One AOPA member of almost 30 years said “BasicMed has lifted a burden off my shoulders” after a recent diagnosis of Type II diabetes.While many pilots are already flying under BasicMed, we know that there are others who still have questions, and that’s why we developed our “Fit to Fly” resources available online (www.aopa.org/fittofly). There you will find our Pilot and Physician Guide to help both doctors and aviators understand the necessary steps. We have also worked with the FAA to develop the free online course that BasicMed pilots must take every two years. The course consists of 20 questions and takes about 40 minutes to complete. We also have an online video guide, answers to frequently asked questions, and other resources that should help you complete the process.

Flying under BasicMed starts with the completion of the self-assessment checklist, then getting an examination with a state-licensed physician, and finally completing the online medical education course. Last, but not least, make sure you are current, and if you aren’t, sign up for one of our Rusty Pilots seminars.

Even though your pilot certificate never expires, sometimes life gets in the way, which is why we started our Rusty Pilots Program. This year we plan to host more than 250 seminars across the country that are about three hours long and free to AOPA members. The program is already responsible for putting 3,500 pilots back in the left seat. You can find more information online (www.aopa.org/rustypilots).

If you would like to speak to one of our experts about BasicMed, contact the AOPA Pilot Information Center hotline at 888-462-3976 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eastern time or email them at [email protected]. Our staff is standing by to help.

And of course we hope to see you in person at our remaining three regional AOPA Fly-Ins as well as EAA AirVenture. Our next fly-in will take place in Norman, Oklahoma, on September 8 and 9 at the University of Oklahoma Westheimer Airport (OUN). Following Oklahoma, we are headed to the Groton-New London Airport (GON) in Groton, Connecticut, on October 6 and 7. Our final fly-in this season will be in Tampa, Florida, on October 27 and 28 at Peter O. Knight Airport (TPF). We’ll also be at EAA’s Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, this July. Our staff will be on hand at these events to answer questions about BasicMed—and to help you get the process started, if you haven’t already.

Email [email protected]