Go on Basic Med - what am I missing ?

WDD

WDD

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Vintage Snazzy (so my adult children say)
My 3rd class expires next April.

Got my PPL Jan this year. I fly for fun. I never see me flying a plane larger than 6 seats, faster than 250 kts or in the flight levels (sounds expensive!).

Next goal is instrument rating in 2021.

Then maybe commercial rating just as something to shoot for. No intention of flying for pay.

Maybe in 5 years I’ll retire and for fun become a CFI.

I can’t think of any reason not to go Basic Med. Nothing has changed medically for me - but the more I read the more concerned I am that the FAA might contact my elementary school nurse and disqualify me because I didn’t disclose I had the chicken pox when I was 7 years old.

If and when time comes for commercial rating - which I believe needs a 3rd class - I can just go get it at that time.

Am I missing anything ? Any red flags for 3rd class to Basic, back to 3rd and then back to Basic?
 
WDD said:
If and when time comes for commercial rating - which I believe needs a 3rd class - I can just go get it at that time.
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I think you can take the comm ride with basicmed.
 
As was said, you can do comm training and take checkride with basicmed. This is what I did. You need at least 2nd class to use it, however.
 
It is my understanding there is an interpretation letter from the FAA that allows CFI privileges with a basic med. Anyone have first hand knowledge on this? I do know a CFI Without a current medical can provide dual instruction to a current rated pilot. (Since either can be PIC during that flight)
 
You are missing that BasicMed is good for 4 years. If you're over 40, that's a double bonus. If you're under 40, you're losing a year.

But otherwise...you've got it.
 
Yes, see the faq linked above.
 
GeorgeC said:
Yes, see the faq linked above.
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So examiner is required to hold a medical, but the examinee just has to have BasicMed, if I'm reading that correctly. I'm starting to struggle to see why a person WOULDNT go with basicmed at this point.
 
jssaylor2007 said:
So examiner is required to hold a medical, but the examinee just has to have BasicMed, if I'm reading that correctly. I'm starting to struggle to see why a person WOULDNT go with basicmed at this point.
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The only downside, at this point, is you can't go to Canada with Basic Med. Of course, I doubt they would ever check, but it's a technical limitation for some. I'm Basic Med and it sure make sense for me.
 
Pugs said:
The only downside, at this point, is you can't go to Canada with Basic Med. Of course, I doubt they would ever check, but it's a technical limitation for some. I'm Basic Med and it sure make sense for me.
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I imagine Canada will allow it before too terribly long. Especially with Mexico recently allowing it.
 
Pugs said:
The only downside, at this point, is you can't go to Canada with Basic Med. Of course, I doubt they would ever check, but it's a technical limitation for some. I'm Basic Med and it sure make sense for me.
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Or fly a plane with more than 6 seats, more than 12,500 pounds, or fly in Alpha airspace.
 
It's my understanding you can't act as a safety pilot under Basic Med. Maybe this has changed. But as a CFII with a spouse working on their instrument rating, that's limiting.

Also (and the reason for the anon post), I have an SI. I feel like it's better to provide them with what they want during the monitoring period rather than drop off the face of the earth then have t reapply for a medical later on. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel more comfortable with a second/class for the duration of the authorization. Afterward, I'll reevaluate.
 
I can live without Flying to Canada. Or over pirate and shark infested Bermuda Triangle to the Bahamas.
 
Insurance! I would not put it pass insurance companies raising the rates more for basic med than for 3rd class, all things considered.
 
Eldorado said:
Insurance! I would not put it pass insurance companies raising the rates more for basic med than for 3rd class, all things considered.
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When I got a rate quote a few weeks ago Basic Med didn't make one iota of difference.
 
You won't be able to take a ride in the FAA altitude chamber at Oshkosh without a medical...

While I would usually advocate for BasicMed, in your case I would still go for a medical certificate. As long as you won't be disclosing any new conditions that would cause the FAA to take a second glance your chances of of getting popped for some random screw up on a previous form are probably pretty remote. If you develop a condition that would require an SI or if you have an AME that defers everything out of the ordinary to OKC, then I would definitely go BasicMed.

Another option is to do both. That way you have your PCP or whomever would be performing the BasicMed physical trained up on the program and if you develop a disqualifying condition (like OSA) that is covered under BasicMed or you have some event that you feel would cause potential OKC scrutiny, you're good to go to continue flying under BasicMed...
 
There are many folks here way more knowledgeable than me, but if you want to instruct in the future (assuming primary students as most are), wouldn’t you need a class 2 for that? I get the whole advanced students thing, but that’s not very common for a brand new part 61 instructor.
Okay, please correct me.
 
Kritchlow said:
There are many folks here way more knowledgeable than me, but if you want to instruct in the future (assuming primary students as most are), wouldn’t you need a class 2 for that? I get the whole advanced students thing, but that’s not very common for a brand new part 61 instructor.
Okay, please correct me.
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No.

You are making money with your teaching certificate (CFI), not pilot certificate

The only reason you even need a medical is if you need to act as PIC (like for your primary students example), so a 3rd class, basic, or sport if you’re in a sport qualified plane.

Since most planes qualify for basic, going for a FAA medical is just increasing his risk of damage from the FAAs wonky world of medicine. Basic is a much safer option for most CFIs and private pilots.
 
WDD said:
I can live without Flying to Canada. Or over pirate and shark infested Bermuda Triangle to the Bahamas.
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You CAN fly to the Bahamas with Basic Med. i have done it.
My advice to the original poster is to do Basic Med. If at any point you find its limitations too restrictive, at that point you can go for an FAA exam.
As to insurance, on renewal mine asked for date of exam only without inquiring as to type of medical.
Jon
 
Maybe I’ll put Bahamas on my bucket list.......
 
DanStrange said:
No.

You are making money with your teaching certificate (CFI), not pilot certificate

The only reason you even need a medical is if you need to act as PIC (like for your primary students example), so a 3rd class, basic, or sport if you’re in a sport qualified plane.

Since most planes qualify for basic, going for a FAA medical is just increasing his risk of damage from the FAAs wonky world of medicine. Basic is a much safer option for most CFIs and private pilots.
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That’s pretty much what I said... I think??
Premise being most training is preliminary.
 
Kritchlow said:
That’s pretty much what I said... I think??
Premise being most training is preliminary.
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I believe what you offered was that to get a CFI I would need a 2nd class. The answer was No; I can continue with Basic Med and get instrument, commercial, and even CFI. I can even operate and get paid as a CFI all on Basic Med.
 
WDD said:
I believe what you offered was that to get a CFI I would need a 2nd class. The answer was No; I can continue with Basic Med and get instrument, commercial, and even CFI. I can even operate and get paid as a CFI all on Basic Med.
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I guess one could interpret it that way, but not the way it was meant. What I was trying to say was since the majority of training is preliminary, a medical would be needed to do that.
 
Not following - I have my PPL already. At this point I will never need a medical for any and all of my intended future training and flying - all the way to being a paid CFI if I wanted that.
 
WDD said:
Not following - I have my PPL already. At this point I will never need a medical for any and all of my intended future training and flying - all the way to being a paid CFI if I wanted that.
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I guess I’m not doing a good job communicating.
I’ll try again... Instructors would need a medical to instruct primary students, correct?
I’m just saying that since most instruction is primary, a medical would be needed in order to do that. Advanced instruction, no.
 
As I said earlier, there are more knowledgeable people here about this stuff than me. I could be wrong on the rules. This basic med thing is all new to me, and unfortunately I will never be able to take advantage of it.
 
Kritchlow said:
... Instructors would need a medical to instruct primary students, correct?
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Incorrect.

Instructors can instruct primary PPL students if the instructor has Basic Med. No need for 3rd class or higher.

And SP instructors can instruct SP primary students in LSAs with only a driver’s license for a medical.
 
Half Fast said:
Incorrect.

Instructors can instruct primary PPL students if the instructor has Basic Med. No need for 3rd class or higher.

And SP instructors can instruct SP primary students in LSAs with only a driver’s license for a medical.
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Okay, that explains it. Thanks for that. I just assumed one would need a medical to fly commercially.
 
I am thrilled that just as my Medicals with annual SI’s became more burdensome, the Sport Pilot option became an option - an option I jumped at in 2007 when I bought my Sky Arrow and then when I let my Medical lapse in 2009.

I am beyond thrilled that BasicMed came along when it did, expanding the range of aircraft I can fly to include anything I’d reasonably expect to be flying anyway, and removing some of the Sport Pilot Limitations that made little sense for someone already certified as a Commercial Pilot. Not being able to fly over 10,000’, or on top of an overcast, for instance. As has been discussed, I can still earn a little pocket change giving Flight Reviews and the like - in fact, I gave one yesterday in a nice little REMOS. Now, with BasicMed I can also do so for someone with an expired Flight Review in a “certified” aircraft as well.

But one can always wish for more. In my case, I would love to be able to get paid for non-passenger Commercial operations, mainly ferrying planes. As long as passengers are not involved, I think it would make sense to allow for such operations - I don’t see how they would entail substantially more risk than private operations. But I’m not complaining!
 
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