BasicMed
The Details
What is BasicMed?
BasicMed is a way for pilots to fly without holding a FAA Medical Certificate. Your own physician does the exam.
*Please note that a BasicMed will not allow a pilot to fly into Canada.
Who Qualifies for BasicMed?
- A pilot with a driver's license
- A pilot who has had at least one FAA Medical Certificate since July 14, 2006.
- A pilot who has had a physical exam with their personal physician using the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist. We suggest you bring the checklist to your appointment. (Download the Checklist here.)
- A pilot who has completed one of the BasicMed education courses linked below:
Download the Mayo Clinic BasicMed Course here.
Download the AOPA's BasicMed Medical Self-Assessment here.
More About BasicMed
The FAA states that a BasicMed exam is a comprehensive medical exam which addresses long term health conditions and provides appropriate screening tests.
As a result, Aviation Medical Examiners, like the physicians at Seacoast Flight Medicine, do not provide BasicMed exams.
We can, however, provide a 3rd Class Medical Exam instead!
Flying with BasicMed
As a BasicMed holder, you cannot:
- Fly an aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 6,000 lbs.
- Have an aircraft authorized under federal law carry more than 6 occupants
- Carry more than five passengers on your aircraft
- Operate under BasicMed outside of the U.S.
- Operate your aircraft outside of the U.S.
- Fly above 18,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) – keep this in mind if your flight plan calls for you to fly over high terrain or in questionable weather.
- Exceed 250 knots of true airspeed
- Operate for compensation or for hire – if you are a flight instructor, you may receive compensation for teaching but not for piloting the aircraft.
