FAA Medical Tracking with BasicMed

Pilot Partner has added support for BasicMed to it’s Electronic Logbook Option.  With this feature a pilot can easily keep track of any kind of FAA Medical and all of the requirements to act as a Pilot In Command.  Pilot Partner will alert the user when a required action item is coming due.

Tracking Class I, II, III Medicals

With the introduction of BasicMed, there has been no changes to the FAA Medical system.  Class I, II and III Medicals are still available and required for some type of flying.   Pilot Partner allows pilots to log their medical into their Electronic Logbook and track the expatriation date of the medical.    The rules can get pretty complex when it comes to medicals.

FAA 3rd Class Medical

A 3rd Class Medical Certificate is required for a Pilot to act as Pilot in Command of an aircraft flown for personal or recreational purposes.  The 3rd Class Medical is good for 24 Calendar Months if the Pilot is over the age of 40 when the Medical was issued, or 60 Calendar Months if the Pilot is under the age of 40.

A Flight Instructor can operate using a 3rd Class Medical or the new BasicMed requirements.

FAA 2nd Class Medical

The 2nd Class Medical is required for Commercial operations including: Air Tours, Banner Tower, Skydiving Pilot, and more.

The 2nd Class Medical is good for 12 Months regardless of your age.   When a 2nd Class Medical expires, the Pilot can use the 2nd Class Medical to execute the privileges of a 3rd Class Medical based on the 24 or 60 month rule.

This means a 2nd Class Medical is both a 2nd Class and a 3rd Class.

FAA 1st Class Medical

The 1st Class Medical is required for Airline Transport (ATP) operations.  These medicals are good for 6 months if you are over 40 years old and 12 months if you are under 40.    Like the 2nd Class Medical, the 1st Class Medical will allow the pilot to execute the privileges of a 2nd or 3rd class medical after the 1st class has expired.

BasicMed

As of May 1st, 2017, the FAA has approved pilots to fly under certain restrictions using the new BasicMed rules.  If a Pilot still has a valid FAA Medical (Class I, II or III) the pilot will be operating under the Medical even if the pilot has met the requirements of BasicMed.

What is Required?

In order to qualify for BasicMed a Pilot must:

• Have had a Medical Issued after July 14th, 2006
• Have a Valid U.S. Drivers License
• Have NOT had the most recent application for a medical denied or the most recent medical certificate revoke or suspended
• Must NOT have any conditions that the FAA has established that requires a one time Special Issuance

In addition to meeting the basic requirements, the Pilot must also do the following:

• Complete an Online Aeromedical Course and get a certificate of completion.  The certificate is valid for 24 Calendar Months and the Pilot must retake the course.
• Complete a Medical Exam with a State Licensed physician using the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist.   This exam is valid for 48 Months (to the day, not calendar days)

Tracking Medical Expiration

All of the rules add up to a rather complicated and difficult to track system to ensure a Pilot is legal to fly.    That is where Pilot Partner really shines.   Pilot Partner allows a Pilot to step through a simple wizard to collect the required information about the Medical History and calculate how long any given medical will allow a Pilot to Fly.   Pilot Partner will show exactly what will expire and when it will expire.  A Pilot should never have a medical expire on them without plenty of warning.

How to Use Pilot Partner Medical Tracker

Using the Pilot Partner Medical Tracker is easy and takes a minute or less to setup.   To get Started:

1. Sign up for a 60 Day Free Trail of Pilot Partner: https://pilotpartner.net
2. Click on the Configuration Menu Option on the Left Navigation
3. Click on FAA Medical in the Sub Menu
4. Enter the Following Information
   1. Birth Date
   2. Date Last Medical was Issued (Even if it is Expired)
   3. Class of Last Medical Issued (1, 2 or 3)
   4. Answer the Required Questions for BasicMed
   5. Enter the Date of your Last Qualifying Examination with the Aeromedical Checklist
   6. Enter the Date of your Last Online Aeromedical Course Certificate

Pilot Partner will then automatically Calculate the medical status and expiration dates of everything.  If the pilot has a valid FAA Medical the information required for BasicMed can be left blank.

Pilot Partner suggests that most general aviation pilots go ahead and take the Aeromedical Course and get an examination from a physician just in case.  It never hurts to be covered under multiple ways to fly General Aviation

Uploading Documentation

Pilot Partner will allow pilots to upload their Medical Certificate, Examination Checklist, and Certificate of Completion for the Aeromedical Course to their Pilot Partner Account.

At this time, it is Pilot Partner’s understanding that having a digital copy of your Medical Certificate does not meet the FAA’s requirement to have it with the Pilot while flying.  But if a Pilot gets ramp checked without their medical, a Digital Copy may be helpful.  Do fly with a Pilot Certificate and Medical Certificate available.

Updating Medical Information

When a Pilot receives a new FAA Medical, gets a qualifying examination, or takes the online course, simply go to the same page as above and choose, “Update Medical.”  The same wizard as before will allow the Pilot to make any changes and then Pilot Partner will recalculate all expiration dates.

This system makes tracking the Complex FAA Medical requirements simple and easy.