BasicMed: What Is a Covered Aircraft?

From AOPA ePilot News, February 9, 2107 Under third class medical reform, now known as BasicMed, pilots flying covered aircraft and meeting certain requirements will have the option of using BasicMed in lieu of a third class medical certificate. The new rules take effect May 1 of this year.

It is important to note that BasicMed is not limited to aircraft in the airplane category. Any aircraft that has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds or less and is not authorized by federal law to carry more than six occupants can be operated under BasicMed per 14 CFR 61.113(i)(1). There are no limits on horsepower, number of engines, or gear type. However, compliance with the maximum occupant rule is not as simple as confirming the aircraft has six seats or fewer installed.

Some aircraft are authorized to have either six, or more than six seats installed per the type certificate data sheet (TC). One example is the Piper Cherokee 6 (PA-32-300). The TC for this airplane authorizes it to have either six or seven seats installed. Since it is authorized to have seven occupants, it does not meet the BasicMed requirements, even if only six seats are presently installed.

The FAA does allow that an aircraft can receive a supplemental type certificate (STC) or an amended type certificate (ATC) to reduce the maximum number of authorized seats to six or fewer. See Advisory Circular 68-1. If the new design approval authorizes no more than six seats, then it will conform with the BasicMed requirements. Similarly, an aircraft that was originally certificated with a maximum certificated takeoff weight greater than 6,000 pounds can receive a new design approval authorizing a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds or below.

Experimental aircraft also may be flown under BasicMed. Rather than having a TC, experimental aircraft are issued a special airworthiness certificate. Nevertheless, the same restrictions apply. If the experimental aircraft was authorized with a maximum certificated takeoff weight above 6,000 pounds, the design approval would have to be modified to a maximum of 6,000 pounds or less before it could be flown under BasicMed.

BasicMed also restricts pilots to operating no faster than 250 KIAS and no higher than 18,000 feet msl per 14 CFR 61.113(i)(2). However, these restrictions do not relate to the operating limitations of the aircraft. It is permissible to fly an aircraft under BasicMed that is capable of flying faster and/or higher than those limits as long as the aircraft can be safely flown within them, and as long as the flight is conducted according to the regulations.

Chad Mayer AOPA Legal Services Attorney And for those flying with a current third class medical, a key question about BasicMed answered:

Q: I’ve had a standard third class medical exam within the past four years – could it count as the BasicMed exam?

A. No. The BasicMed regulations require an exam by a state licensed physician performed in accordance with the new rules, and the completion of the medical examination checklist. The items on the checklist are different than those for the current third class medical certificate, so a new exam by a physician (not necessarily an Aviation Medical Examiner) is required. Your previous third class medical exam will not meet the requirement for the physical exam.