BasicMed

[Bob Turner]

Listen up!

This is one of the truly neat deals - I stress it in ground school, and then have reasonably bright students taking a chance with another third class medical. That can bite!

If you are not absolutely sure you can pass a third class, do not submit the form until you are 100% certain.

If you do submit, and are turned down, you cannot fly BasicMed, and you cannot fly Sport.
CANNOT! You cannot fly! If you don't submit, you can fly untill they pull your driver's license.

If you have a special issuance, and want to skip those yearly invasive exams, go BasicMed.

(Of course, this does not apply if you fly Beavers, or want to fly in Canada, or fly commercially)

Know the risks of flunking a third class. Know that if you flunk, you cannot fly anything, ever, until you re-qualify once for a third class!

You may see this on other forums - I am scratching my head trying to figure out why this is not making it as general knowledge. Maybe it is like "line up and wait" or that new "hold short" thing?

 

[sierrasplitter]

Yes. I got two third class and got tired of doing it every two years ( Over 40 ) With Basic Med I only have to it once every four years and take an on line safety course once every two years
Sometimes you get a raised brow when you are asked what medical you have as if you have something to hide, but as you stated ....if you have no plans to fly commercial or in Canada it should be a no brainer

 

[JimParker256]

Bob, you're correct, but your wording may leave room for some misinterpretation. I completely agree that if one does not know with 100% certainty that he/she can pass the 3rd Class physical, then they should not even complete the FAA paperwork for the 3rd Class FAA physical, and stick to flying Light Sport with drivers license in lieu of medical. Once the FAA form is submitted, the application for an FAA physical has begun, and if not successfully completed, it will result in a denial (which also disqualifies one from using Basic Med).

But if one does intend to use the BasicMed option (as I did this year), one must have held a 3rd Class (or higher) FAA medical within the preceding 10 years, AND not have any of the disqualifying conditions covered in the regulation. It's not a total panacea, and one cannot use BasicMed "ab initio" in lieu of getting an FAA physical. (Which is also required for the Student Pilot certificate, right?)

 

[Bob Turner]

99% agree. You do not need a medical to get a student certificate. I just got a student a Sport license, and he never ever held a 3rd class.
And don't forget - the subset of things that disqualify you for BasicMed is smaller. See SuperCub dot org for the three things that drive you to a special issuance.
Once you hold a special issuance, you can go BasicMed forever, unless one of those three things strike your body again.

 

[HalfTonChamp]

Bob, I so appreciate your and those on SC.org for your advice. My real world experience this time in this place:
Last 3rd class-Feb "17 so basic med not ready yet. Flew that ticket 2 years and talked to numerous doctors, some of whom fly, and long story short I had to get another 3rd class before time ran out. The story is if they are taking you as a new patient and you are certifiably healthy, they still might not feel like taking the liability as an individual or group practice with the litigious society in which we live. If they turn down a pilot, that is a tiny subset of their business. Also, I tend to see nurse-practitioners rather than MDs because my few issues are minor and MDs are busier. So I almost have to introduce myself to my official 'doctor'. All that said, I am still pursuing basicmed and will get it as soon as I can even while holding my 3rd class as you and others have wisely advised. I hope my quest will help others.

 

[Bob Turner]

Some AMEs will do the Basic Med paperwork. Ask around. The guy who gave you your third class should have filled out the forms at the same time. After all, he/she just checked all that stuff and more.

 

[aftCG]

Got my BFR (sorry, "flight review") done last week. I had intended to do it in my Citabria but came down with the flu and timed out before I could get on the schedule again.
Was forced to rent a plane with a nose wheel. CFI I've known for 20 years asked about my medical. When I said it is a 3rd class she said "good, because we don't rent to people with basic med". I hadn't heard that was happening but she said it's pretty common.

 

[Bob Turner]

She is just jealous. Everybody accepts BasicMed. And if it was dual instruction, it was her ticket you were flying on - by definition you could not be PIC.

 

[aftCG]

She is just jealous. Everybody accepts BasicMed. And if it was dual instruction, it was her ticket you were flying on - by definition you could not be PIC.

I'm not sure what their motivation was. This particular flight school is one of those run by an aging couple known to be crabby and difficult. You know the kind, where they probably chase away more customers than they keep and probably wonder why they aren't more successful.

Had I not turned into a pumpkin on the last day of February they would have insisted I bring my aircraft logs and insurance paperwork before allowing me to use my own plane.
The particular instructor is one I worked with decades ago, does not have a tail wheel endorsement. But since we go easy back it makes BFRs straight forward.

You are correct, it was instruction and because I was expired I was not PIC. As such my friend made it clear I would not be returning to rent planes. So I also avoided doing my 456th "C172 checkout form".

I'm planning on reinstating my CFII so I won't be exercising the basic med option anytime soon.

 

[Bob Turner]

BasicMed is ok if all you are doing is instructing for hire.

Your local CFI needs to get educated. First, your insurance policy will not cover him unless it says so. It is pointless for him to look at it. In the event of an accident, he will be at fault for simply sitting in your right seat, and if hull damage is involved, your insurer has the right to recover from him after they pay you! Ouch!

If he does not carry his own insurance, he is making a serious mistake holding himself out as an instructor.

Here is what I do - and I instruct 2-3 hours per week:

I carry full liability through SAFE. It only covers me when in other folks' aircraft; I cannot instruct in my own.

I demand and get a "Waiver of Subrogation" from the student's insurer. It is usually free, and it usually comes with "additional insured" status, although I do not need that.

Some believe that being "named" on a policy covers you. In general, that is not true. The only time it is true is if the insurer explicitly states so.

If you do not actively instruct, it is better if you do not renew your instructor ticket. That way you can ride in the right seat of your friends' airplanes worry free.