AOPA Action: BasicMed in Effect May 1

As pilots anticipate the launch of medical certification reform, AOPA continues working behind the scenes to make sure they will be able to continue doing the kind of flying they love under the BasicMed program.

AOPA has worked for years advocating for an alternative to the recurrent medical certification that bogs many pilots down in costly tests and special issuance documentation. And when Congress passed third class medical reform in July 2016 (“Game Changer,” September 2016 AOPA Pilot), the work wasn’t finished. AOPA staff continued laying the groundwork to allow pilots to take full advantage of the new law, fine-tuning the association’s free medical self-assessment online course and ramping up its Rusty Pilots program (see “President’s Position: BasicMed Almost a Reality,” page 6).

The release of the FAA’s BasicMed rule in January set a May 1 implementation date and laid out details of how pilots can participate. AOPA’s Pilot Information Center fielded a flood of calls about details of the rule; the association compiled resources for pilots and physicians online; and staff members worked to finalize the online course that will be an important part of participation. Before flying under BasicMed, pilots must get a physical exam by a state-licensed physician, have the associated checklist completed, and then complete the online aeromedical course. Both the checklist and the course must receive Office of Management and Budget approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The AOPA Air Safety Institute had developed a medical self-assessment course in tandem with AOPA’s advocacy efforts, and once the reforms were codified into law, AOPA delved into the nitty gritty of ensuring the course not only met the requirements of the law, but would be accepted by the FAA under a memorandum of agreement allowing the association to offer it. Between late November and mid-March, AOPA went back and forth with the federal air surgeon and his staff a dozen times hashing out details of the course. Meanwhile, AOPA’s information technology team tested the software to ensure it could handle the influx of pilots eager to take the course come May 1.

AOPA encourages pilots to review FAR 61.113(i) and the BasicMed advisory circular (Advisory Circular AC 68-1, Alternative Pilot Physical Examination and Education Requirements). Questions? Access AOPA’s “Fit to Fly” Resources page online.

IN BRIEF