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3 Answers

BasicMed for Student Pilot

Asked by: 2328 views
FAA Regulations, Student Pilot

I have a student pilot who had some health history issues that have been resolved now (such as a benign brain tumor that was removed years ago and hasn't had issues since), and the FAA is making him jump through a lot of hoops and making him pay for additional MRI scans, and they issued him a 3rd class medical with only a few months of validity to it while he continues to jump through hoops, but he was wondering if he could just get BasicMed. I know you have to have an FAA class 1-3 medical before getting a basic med, but I'm not sure if a 3rd class medical is required to take the PPL checkride or if basic med is acceptable for student pilot solo?

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3 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Jun 27, 2021

    BasicMed is acceptable for solo and the checkride. But as you noted, he needs that first Class 3. He’ll need that at this point for both.

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  2. John D Collins on Jun 28, 2021

    The first class 3 can be a SI (Special Issuance).

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  3. John Scarry on Jul 13, 2021

    They don’t make it easy if you follow the trail that’s where you end up with being able to exercise the privileges of a student pilot with basic med and you can take any check ride.

    §61.23 Medical certificates: Requirement and duration.
    (3) Must hold at least a third-class medical certificate—
    (iii) When taking a practical test in an aircraft for a recreational pilot, private pilot, commercial pilot, or airline transport pilot certificate, or for a flight instructor certificate, except when operating under the conditions and limitations set forth in §61.113(i); or

    §61.113 Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command.
    (i) A private pilot may act as pilot in command of an aircraft without holding a medical certificate issued under…
    (3) The pilot has available in his or her logbook—
    (i) The completed medical examination checklist required under §68.7 of this chapter; and
    (ii) The certificate of course completion required under §61.23(c)(3).

    §68.7 Comprehensive medical examination checklist.
    (c) Operations requiring either a medical certificate or U.S. driver’s license. (1) A person must hold and possess either a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter or a U.S. driver’s license when—

    §61.23(c)(3)(i) Exercising the privileges of a student pilot certificate while seeking sport pilot privileges in a light-sport aircraft other than a glider or balloon;

    Note: Section 68 is Basic Med.

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