BasicMed Changes in 2024 FAA Reauthorization

[Pinecone]

I saw some info that the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act may include changes to BasicMed, loosening the restrictions.

Supposedly

1) Increases passengers allowed to 6
2) Increases seats allowed to 7
3) Increases max certificated takeoff weight to increase to 12,500 pounds.
4) Would require FAA to help work on getting it accepted in other countries
5) Allow DPEs to do administer tests or proficiency tests with Basic Med

If this is true, I suggest two things.

1) Contact your Congress members (Senate and House) to support this.

AND, add on my change, allow Basic Med up to at least FL250.

 

To contact your Congressional reps, go to - https://www.congress.gov/

This website will give you the info on your representatives by your address. For each one, there is a Contact link, which takes you to their website, where you can enter your info and your request.

This is what I sent to my representatives:

I understand that the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act contains some changes in the limitations when acting as a pilot under the Basic Med provisions.

I would like to request that you support these changes. The FAA recently published a study that shows no difference in the mishap rate for people on Basic Med versus the traditional medical certification.

I would also like you to introduce and support one other change to the limitations for Basic Med and that is to increase the allowable maximum operating altitude from the present 18,000 feet to a minimum of Flight Level 250 (25,000 feet). Flight Level 280 would be even better.

I do want to applaud Congress for mandating the Basic Med program and making that happen. It makes sense to deal with my primary care physician, who knows me well versus a doctor who sees me for 30 minutes every two years.

Thank you.

 

[toto]

https://transportation.house.gov/uploadedfiles/sgrlaa_act_ans.pdf

[McMooney]

what test can a dpe not administer now on basicmed?

I was told by my dpe taking the commercial with basic is just fine?

 

28k would be nice

[toto]

58 minutes ago, McMooney said:

what test can a dpe not administer now on basicmed?

I was told by my dpe taking the commercial with basic is just fine?

 

28k would be nice

The candidate can have BasicMed but the examiner cannot currently administer any practical test for any certificate or rating without at least a third class. 

[Pinecone]

All we can do it try to get the altitude increased.

Contact your representatives, especially your Senator to support an altitude increase.

[GeeBee]

ALPA considers FL180 a hill to die on.

 

[201er]

How about allowing basicmed to act as safety pilot! Can act as PIC but can't be required crew safety pilot sheesh!

[GeeBee]

They don't want you up there with them. They almost strangled BM in the crib and FL180 was one of the compromises to save the baby

[GeeBee]

7 minutes ago, 201er said:

How about allowing basicmed to act as safety pilot! Can act as PIC but can't be required crew safety pilot sheesh!

That was fixed on 12-22-2022

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/recent-faa-final-rule-enables-basicmed-holders-new-privilege/

[201er]

24 minutes ago, GeeBee said:

That was fixed on 12-22-2022

https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/recent-faa-final-rule-enables-basicmed-holders-new-privilege/

Ah, ok I found it. Not an easy find but here it is:

 

14 CFR 61.113(i)

A private pilot may act as pilot in command or serve as a required flightcrew member of an aircraft without holding a medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter provided the pilot holds a valid U.S. driver's license, meets the requirements of § 61.23(c)(3), and complies with this section and all of the following conditions and limitations:

(1) The aircraft is authorized to carry not more than 6 occupants, has a maximum takeoff weight of not more than 6,000 pounds, and is operated with no more than five passengers on board; and

(2) The flight, including each portion of the flight, is not carried out—

(i) At an altitude that is more than 18,000 feet above mean sea level;

(ii) Outside the United States unless authorized by the country in which the flight is conducted; or

(iii) At an indicated airspeed exceeding 250 knots; and

(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).

 

[M20F]

4 hours ago, Evan said:

Would love to hear their argument as to why keep BM below 180. 

Because flying at FL180 and above is dangerous and generally how a lot of GA folks die.  I am not in favor as a GA pilot of loosening that restriction. 
 

Let’s not kid ourselves there is zero qualification for the basic med short of not being crazy or having a heart attack.  In both those 2 instances it is beyond easy to befuddle a doctor to sign off anyways.  
 
What will wreck the basic med is health issues resulting in crash’s that make the news.  Plenty liberal enough without going further in my book.  

[EricJ]

15 minutes ago, M20F said:

Because flying at FL180 and above is dangerous and generally how a lot of GA folks die.  I am not in favor as a GA pilot of loosening that restriction. 

People with turbos do it all the time, though, seemingly without more issues than other altitudes.

[GeeBee]

The recent Citation crash in VA would argue the point that a first or second class medical makes you safer.

 

[GeeBee]

It is at this point, speculation. However it brings up the point of single pilot in the flight levels which as you remember the insurance company wanted 6 figure premium from Dick Karl. If the insurance company charges more, that should drop a hint.

 

[toto]

The Citation pilot in Virginia held a first class medical. 

(Which is what I think you guys were already saying? But just to clarify..)

Report_ERA23FA256_192300_7_6_2023 5_31_28 PM.pdf

[Hank]

10 minutes ago, GeeBee said:

It is at this point, speculation. However it brings up the point of single pilot in the flight levels which as you remember the insurance company wanted 6 figure premium from Dick Karl. If the insurance company charges more, that should drop a hint.

I strange for single pilot turbine operation to FL41 is a whole different ballgame than a turbocharged Mooney at FL24 . . . . Twice as high, twice as fast, more than twice as heavy, twice the potential passenger loadinf, pressurized, etc., etc.

[McMooney]

you know, when i had my 2nd class i flew above 18k then a month later i got basic med, wth is the diff? magical grim reaper waiting at 18001?

an increase to  useable turbo altitudes would be appreciated.

[toto]

I don’t really have a strong opinion on the BasicMed altitude limitations, but I suspect that weather kills more pilots than altitude.

If a pilot can fly above weather at 24k or fly in the muck at 17, it’s at least arguably safer to be higher.

[GeeBee]

2 hours ago, Hank said:

I strange for single pilot turbine operation to FL41 is a whole different ballgame than a turbocharged Mooney at FL24 . . . . Twice as high, twice as fast, more than twice as heavy, twice the potential passenger loadinf, pressurized, etc., etc.

Except in a Part 25 pressurized airplane you have a cabin altitude warning that lets you know if you are about to go Tango Uniform. In a Mooney unless your flow meter is in the field of view and you are wearing a full time pulse oximeter you don't know your oxygen state unless you are fortunate enough to recognize your hypoxia symptoms. You are much more secure at FL240 in a pressurized airplane with cabin warning system than a Mooney wearing a mask. With a warning you have time to grab a mask, rather than the slow degradation to oblivion in an unpressurized airplane. 

[Hank]

10 minutes ago, Evan said:

 

@Parker_Woodruff could speak to it more but my understanding is that the "horror" stories you hear about frequent often are combining a factor of older age of 70+ and then add in basic med. I know of a lot of people only on BM with no difference in premium. 

I'm one of them. But we haven't met yet 

 . . .

[Hank]

47 minutes ago, Evan said:

Well great to e-meet you. 

That'll have to do for now. Too many thunderstorms to go all the way to Iowa anytime soon. We had a week's worth, then five days of heat warnings, now we're back to daily thunder boomers (today makes five again, same forecast throughout the weekend).

[GeeBee]

I will be a septuagenarian myself shortly. Insurance has been about the same with a First Class, then a second then BM. It decreased 10% this renewal thanks to Parker's excellent work. I don't think insurers worry about BM so much as they worry about the risk in the type of operation you are doing. Being single pilot in the flight levels in a jet is not where they want to be risk wise and being a pilot that has more time above FL290 than below it, I don't blame them one bit. After the Thurman Munson crash, the whole "owner flown, single pilot jet transport" thing took a significant insurance hit. The premium difference was sufficient to pay a second pilot. 

[201Steve]

22 hours ago, GeeBee said:

They don't want you up there with them. They almost strangled BM in the crib and FL180 was one of the compromises to save the baby

What airlines are cruising around at 25k and below?

[Pinecone]

17 hours ago, M20F said:

Because flying at FL180 and above is dangerous and generally how a lot of GA folks die.  I am not in favor as a GA pilot of loosening that restriction. 
 

Let’s not kid ourselves there is zero qualification for the basic med short of not being crazy or having a heart attack.  In both those 2 instances it is beyond easy to befuddle a doctor to sign off anyways.  
 
What will wreck the basic med is health issues resulting in crash’s that make the news.  Plenty liberal enough without going further in my book.  

What exactly is part of the 3rd class, or even 2nd or 1st class exams that has anything to do with flying at 18000 feet??????????

How about ABSOLUTELY nothing.

 

[Pinecone]

12 hours ago, GeeBee said:

Except in a Part 25 pressurized airplane you have a cabin altitude warning that lets you know if you are about to go Tango Uniform. In a Mooney unless your flow meter is in the field of view and you are wearing a full time pulse oximeter you don't know your oxygen state unless you are fortunate enough to recognize your hypoxia symptoms. You are much more secure at FL240 in a pressurized airplane with cabin warning system than a Mooney wearing a mask. With a warning you have time to grab a mask, rather than the slow degradation to oblivion in an unpressurized airplane. 

But how is this different for a pilot with a 3rd class or higher medical versus BasicMed????????