A SIMPLE Question about SI’s, SSRIs, and BasicMed

Harry

Harry

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Harry
I’ve read thousands of words about it and still don’t know the yes-or-no answer to this:

I have taken Zoloft for many years, have been on an SI for it for a few years, and my doctor asserts that I am am stable and symptom-free. Can I get BasicMed?
 
Have you had a valid medical this side of July 14, 2006?

Is your doctor comfortable signing off on FAA form 8700-2?
"In accordance with section 2307(b)(2)(C)(iv), of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-190), I certify
that I discussed all items on this checklist with the individual during my examination, discussed any medications the individual is taking
that could interfere with their ability to safely operate an aircraft or motor vehicle, and performed an examination that included all of the
items on this checklist. I certify that I am not aware of any medical condition that, as presently treated, could interfere with the
individual's ability to safely operate an aircraft."
 
// Have you had a valid medical this side of July 14, 2006?
Yes, I have one now. With an SI.

//Is your doctor comfortable signing off on FAA form 8700-2?
Yes.
 
Harry said:
I’ve read thousands of words about it and still don’t know the yes-or-no answer to this:

I have taken Zoloft for many years, have been on an SI for it for a few years, and my doctor asserts that I am am stable and symptom-free. Can I get BasicMed?
Click to expand...
Yes.
You had a valid medical after 2006.
You had an SI.
Boxes checked.
 
Not so fast…
- I asked the FAA medical certification office this question, and they said "I think so, but we're not supposed to talk about, you need to talk to the 'BasicMed folks' since it was an act of Congress".
- Then I read the 12 page Basic Med FAQs (https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/basic_med/media/basicmed_faq.pdf) from which I conclude that I *can* get Basic Med. - Then I talked to a (different) HIMS AME who said they thought I wasn't eligible.
I can't find a separate contact for 'the Basic Med folks', so I'm going to call the medical certification office again and get yet another opinion, for what it's worth.
 
If you look hard enough, you will find someone who will tell you that you can't - even if they have to make up a regulation to support their argument.

Example:
"Not meeting the standards of a third class medical is prima facie evidence of a medical deficiency and you can't fly under the sport pilot rules."
 
Harry said:
Not so fast…
- I asked the FAA medical certification office this question, and they said "I think so, but we're not supposed to talk about, you need to talk to the 'BasicMed folks' since it was an act of Congress".
- Then I read the 12 page Basic Med FAQs (https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/basic_med/media/basicmed_faq.pdf) from which I conclude that I *can* get Basic Med. - Then I talked to a (different) HIMS AME who said they thought I wasn't eligible.
I can't find a separate contact for 'the Basic Med folks', so I'm going to call the medical certification office again and get yet another opinion, for what it's worth.
Click to expand...


Bottom line - it ain’t up to the FAA. It’s between you and your doctor. That’s the whole point of Basic Med! Stop asking for opinions from those who have no say.
 
Harry said:
Not so fast…
- I asked the FAA medical certification office this question, and they said "I think so, but we're not supposed to talk about, you need to talk to the 'BasicMed folks' since it was an act of Congress".
- Then I read the 12 page Basic Med FAQs (https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/basic_med/media/basicmed_faq.pdf) from which I conclude that I *can* get Basic Med. - Then I talked to a (different) HIMS AME who said they thought I wasn't eligible.
I can't find a separate contact for 'the Basic Med folks', so I'm going to call the medical certification office again and get yet another opinion, for what it's worth.
Click to expand...
BasicMed is not an Aerospace Medicine program, so medical certification folks generally won't speak definitively on it.

You are correct, the question is pretty simple. BasicMed is 14 CFR 61.113(i) and part 68. The former establishes the operational and aircraft limitations of BasicMed. It also points to 14 CFR 61.23(c)(3). Part 68 contains the medical requirements for BasicMed.

Section 61.23(c)(3) spells out the medical certificate requirements. It sounds like your last part 67 FAA medical certificate was valid for some period after July 14, 2006 and was never suspended or revoked, and you haven't applied for another one since then, so you're good to go there. It also says you need to take the BasicMed comprehensive medical examination and take the online medical education course, which you will presumably complete.

Part 68 addresses your concern whether you qualify to operate under BasicMed based on your medical history of taking Zoloft for a period of time. Section 68.9 contains a list of medical conditions which require a one-time special issuance before operating under BasicMed. Since you've been previously issued a special issuance for the medical condition being treated by Zoloft, you're good to go there. It's worth noting that if you're being treated for a mental health condition, 14 CFR 68.9(c) applies. This provision grounds you if a medical specialist says you're unfit to fly. It also requires you to attest that you're under the care of a State-licensed medical specialist for that mental health condition. This attestation is done in conjunction with the online medical education course.

Lastly, the email for FAA BasicMed questions is: 9-AFS-800-Correspondence@faa.gov
 
Harry said:
Not so fast…
- I asked the FAA medical certification office this question, and they said "I think so, but we're not supposed to talk about, you need to talk to the 'BasicMed folks' since it was an act of Congress".
- Then I read the 12 page Basic Med FAQs (https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification/basic_med/media/basicmed_faq.pdf) from which I conclude that I *can* get Basic Med. - Then I talked to a (different) HIMS AME who said they thought I wasn't eligible.
I can't find a separate contact for 'the Basic Med folks', so I'm going to call the medical certification office again and get yet another opinion, for what it's worth.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't expect an AME to be able to answer questions about basic med.
 
I am in a similar boat - and my interpretation based on the answers above is that I can in fact go the BasicMed route.... My 3rd class (non SI) medical expired in Feb. I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea before my medical expired, and so when I renewed I sent off all the paperwork to get an SI. Of course here I am a couple months later still waiting for that to come. When I looked into BasicMed though I do not see Sleep Apnea listed as a condition that requires an SI - so it seems like if my doctor feels I am comfortable I can still fly under BasicMed even while I wait for my SI to officially come through? I reached out to both my AME and AOPA in the last 24 hours - but obviously it being a weekend I am nervously excited I can do things like take a checkride I have scheduled next month, and go pick up my new to me plane from the seller.
 
To the OP: the problem is in (e) (1) (a) (ii)(II). Interpret as you will. Congress was deliberately vague on this situation. This is from the Federal Register:

upload_2022-4-24_14-42-52.png


Ah, the sausage making process of legislating......You MIGHT be allright but what is "may reasonably be expected...." for heaven's sake. In the opinion of.... your ex GF? Your PCP? a psychiatrist? That is why you can't get a straight answer......sigh.
 
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