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FW: FAA Issues General Aviation Medical Rule

Jerry Marstall <jnmarstall@...>
 

Did everyone see this?

J

 

From: Federal Aviation Administration [mailto:usafaa@...]
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 10:03 AM
To: jnmarstall@...
Subject: FAA Issues General Aviation Medical Rule

 

Jan. 10 - FAA meets congressional deadline with BasicMed rule.

 

News & Update

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FAA Issues General Aviation Medical Rule

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today issued a final rule (PDF) that allows general aviation pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate as long as they meet certain requirements outlined in Congressional legislation.

 

 

“The United States has the world’s most robust general aviation community, and we’re committed to continuing to make it safer and more efficient to become a private pilot,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “The BasicMed rule will keep our pilots safe but will simplify our regulations and keep general aviation flying affordable.”

 

 

Until now, the FAA has required private, recreational, and student pilots, as well as flight instructors, to meet the requirements of and hold a third class medical certificate. They are required to complete an online application and undergo a physical examination with an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner. A medical certificate is valid for five years for pilots under age 40 and two years for pilots age 40 and over.

 

 

Beginning on May 1, pilots may take advantage of the regulatory relief in the BasicMed rule or opt to continue to use their FAA medical certificate. Under BasicMed, a pilot will be required to complete a medical education course, undergo a medical examination every four years, and comply with aircraft and operating restrictions.  For example, pilots using BasicMed cannot operate an aircraft with more than six people onboard and the aircraft must not weigh more than 6,000 pounds. A pilot flying under the BasicMed rule must:

 

  • possess a valid driver’s license;
  • have held a medical certificate at any time after July 15, 2006;
  • have not had the most recently held medical certificate revoked, suspended, or withdrawn;
  • have not had the most recent application for airman medical certification completed and denied;
  • have taken a medical education course within the past 24 calendar months;
  • have completed a comprehensive medical examination with a physician within the past 48 months;
  • be under the care of a physician for certain medical conditions;
  • have been found eligible for special issuance of a medical certificate for certain specified mental health, neurological, or cardiovascular conditions, when applicable;
  • consent to a National Driver Register check;
  • fly only certain small aircraft, at a limited altitude and speed, and only within the United States; and
  • not fly for compensation or hire.

 

The July 15, 2016 FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 directed the FAA to issue or revise regulations by January 10, 2017, to ensure that an individual may operate as pilot in command of a certain aircraft without having to undergo the medical certification process under Part 67 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, if the pilot and aircraft meet certain prescribed conditions outlined in the Act.

 

 

The FAA and the general aviation community have a strong track record of collaboration. The agency is working with nonprofit organizations and the not-for-profit general aviation stakeholder groups to develop online medical courses that meet the requirements of the Act.

 

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Bruce Crain
 

Jay Scheevel
 

The biggest problem this poses is if you decide to continue with the old method of a bi annual medical, there will be no more FAA AME's in the area. We already are strapped in this area, as all of the AME's are retired or passed away. May be that the only possibility is to drive long distances or go with the new system. I am due at the end of January, and I still have not found anyone to do the exam.

Cheers,
Jay
Mike Dwyer
 

Interesting... we got an excess of AME's here in Florida, probably 10 within a 20 min drive.  I don't think they will go away because they also do occupational medicine like truck drivers...  $150 when I went a few months ago tho.
Mike N3QP Q200 


On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 6:10 PM, jay@... [Q-LIST] <Q-LIST@...> wrote:
 

The biggest problem this poses is if you decide to continue with the old method of a bi annual medical, there will be no more FAA AME's in the area. We already are strapped in this area, as all of the AME's are retired or passed away. May be that the only possibility is to drive long distances or go with the new system. I am due at the end of January, and I still have not found anyone to do the exam.

Cheers,
Jay
ryan goodman
 

At Limited altitude and speed?


On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 5:43 PM, Mike Dwyer q2pilot@... [Q-LIST]
wrote:
 

Interesting... we got an excess of AME's here in Florida, probably 10 within a 20 min drive.  I don't think they will go away because they also do occupational medicine like truck drivers...  $150 when I went a few months ago tho.
Mike N3QP Q200 


On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 6:10 PM, jay@... [Q-LIST] <Q-LIST@...> wrote:
 

The biggest problem this poses is if you decide to continue with the old method of a bi annual medical, there will be no more FAA AME's in the area. We already are strapped in this area, as all of the AME's are retired or passed away. May be that the only possibility is to drive long distances or go with the new system. I am due at the end of January, and I still have not found anyone to do the exam.

Cheers,
Jay
Tristan Vincent-Philpot <trisvp@...>
 

18,000ft and 250 Kts IAS.

On Jan 10, 2017, at 5:25 PM, ryan goodman elboy0712@... [Q-LIST] <Q-LIST@...> wrote:

At Limited altitude and speed?


 

Interesting... we got an excess of AME's here in Florida, probably 10 within a 20 min drive.  I don't think they will go away because they also do occupational medicine like truck drivers...  $150 when I went a few months ago tho.
Mike N3QP Q200 


On Tue, Jan 10, 2017 at 6:10 PM, jay@... [Q-LIST] <Q-LIST@...> wrote:
 

The biggest problem this poses is if you decide to continue with the old method of a bi annual medical, there will be no more FAA AME's in the area. We already are strapped in this area, as all of the AME's are retired or passed away. May be that the only possibility is to drive long distances or go with the new system. I am due at the end of January, and I still have not found anyone to do the exam.

Cheers,
Jay
Jay Scheevel
 

Guess I better stick with the standard medical, since my Tri-Q will easily exceed those numbers :-)

Seriously, the most significant restriction that I think may be of concern to the Q-crowd with the new medical is that it limits flight to within the Continental U.S. So anyone thinking of flying to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, etc. will not be allowed to do so.

There also may be insurance implications. We have not heard much from insurance providers on whether there may be a two tiered rate for the two paths of medical certification.

Cheers,
Jay

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