The Federal Aviation Administration updated its BasicMed regulations to allow pilots to operate larger aircraft and carry more passengers.
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association applauded the expansion of BasicMed privileges included in the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and in full effect as of November 12.
Under the new law signed May 16, pilots may now use BasicMed privileges to fly aircraft weighing up to 12,500 pounds and certified to carry up to seven occupants. The previous aircraft weight limitation was 6,000 pounds, with certification for up to six occupants.
BasicMed, which took effect in 2017, allows pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate provided they meet certain conditions.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 required the FAA to expand BasicMed to:
- Increase the number of allowable passengers to six from five, and the number of occupants to seven from six.
- Increase the maximum aircraft takeoff weight to 12,500 lbs. from 6,000 lbs., excluding transport category helicopters.
- Allow pilot examiners to conduct flight checks using BasicMed in aircraft that are covered by the BasicMed rule. Information for examiners is available here.
Pilots must meet specific conditions to operate under BasicMed. Among other things, they must have held a valid medical certificate at some point after July 14, 2006; the most recent medical certificate cannot have been denied, revoked, or suspended; they must complete a medical exam by a state-licensed physician; they must complete an online medical education course; and they must hold a valid U.S. driver’s license.
Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, said, “BasicMed has been a success, and its improvement and expansion was a high priority of mine when writing the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. As a professional pilot, I know our aviation sector would not be where it is today without a strong general aviation community. That’s why I worked relentlessly with AOPA’s Mark Baker to ensure that the new aviation law included the first-ever section, or title, dedicated to GA. Mark and I share the goal of allowing more pilots the freedom to fly, and the expansion of BasicMed—a cornerstone of the FAA law’s GA title—will do just that. I am grateful to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for their strong partnership in developing the GA title and for their work in helping get this law across the finish line.”
“AOPA is proud to have played a significant role in making BasicMed a reality for pilots in 2016,” said Mark Baker. “The expansion of BasicMed reflects the positive safety review by the FAA and the program’s use by thousands of pilots. Chairman Sam Graves skillfully moved the FAA bill through Congress by working across the aisle and put forward a great bill for general aviation.”
In required reports to Congress since 2017, the FAA has concluded that BasicMed has no impact on safety, with no difference found between the safety records of pilots flying under BasicMed compared to pilots flying with third class medical certificates.
BasicMed allows a pilot to be examined by either an aviation medical examiner or his or her own state-licensed physician every 48 months. The program also requires pilots to take an online medical education course every 24 months. AOPA administers an FAA-approved online course, which can be found within AOPA’s comprehensive BasicMed microsite: https://www.aopa.org/advocacy/pilots/medical/basicmed
BasicMed also includes certain limitations. Pilots cannot fly for compensation or hire and are restricted to flying at or below 18,000 feet altitude and at a speed no greater than 250 knots.
