Not legal or medical advice. Always verify your specific situation with the FAA, your physician, and (if applicable) an AME.
BasicMed is the FAA’s alternative path that lets many pilots fly without holding a current FAA medical certificate, as long as they meet specific eligibility, renewal, aircraft, and operating requirements.
What’s new (and what most pilots miss): the 2024 BasicMed expansion
Congress expanded BasicMed in 2024, and the FAA updated the regulations accordingly (effective November 18, 2024).
Today’s headline limits under BasicMed:
- Aircraft: up to 7 occupants authorized, 12,500 lbs max certificated takeoff weight (with an exclusion for certain transport category rotorcraft).
- On board: no more than 6 passengers (pilot + 6 passengers = 7 occupants).
- Ops: VFR or IFR, ≤ 18,000 ft MSL, ≤ 250 KIAS, not for compensation or hire, and generally within the U.S. unless the other country authorizes it.
- Who can use it: the FAA explicitly includes flight instructors, safety pilots/required flightcrew, and pilot examiners (under the updated rules).
Quick Cheat Sheet
Renewal cadence
- Doctor exam + CMEC: every 48 calendar months.
- Online BasicMed course: every 24 calendar months.
You must keep (and be able to produce)
- Completed CMEC and course completion certificate in/with your logbook (paper or electronic).
FAQ 1) Who is BasicMed for?
BasicMed is aimed at pilots who want to fly noncommercially (within the BasicMed operating limits) and who can meet the eligibility and renewal rules. The FAA describes it as an “alternate way” to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate, if you meet the requirements.
FAQ 2) Am I eligible for BasicMed?
You generally must:
- Hold a valid U.S. driver’s license and comply with its medical restrictions.
- Have held an FAA medical certificate at any point after July 14, 2006.
- Complete the online medical education course within the last 24 calendar months.
- Complete a comprehensive medical exam with a state-licensed physician within the last 48 calendar months and use the required checklist process.
- If you have a medical condition that may impact flying, be under the care and treatment of a state-licensed physician when you fly.
Also important: your most recent FAA medical can’t have been suspended/revoked, your most recent special issuance can’t have been withdrawn, and your most recent medical application can’t have been completed and denied.
FAQ 3) I’ve never held an FAA medical after July 14, 2006. Can I start with BasicMed?
No—BasicMed requires that you previously held an FAA medical certificate after July 14, 2006. If you’ve never had one, you’ll need to obtain an FAA medical (typically via an AME) first.
FAQ 4) What if I’ve had certain “big” medical diagnoses—do I need a Special Issuance first?
Possibly. Under 14 CFR § 68.9, BasicMed requires a one-time Special Issuance process for each diagnosis in three buckets:
Mental health conditions (limited list)
- Severe personality disorder (with repeated overt acts)
- Psychosis (as defined in the regulation)
- Bipolar disorder
- Substance dependence within the previous 2 years
Neurological conditions (limited list)
- Epilepsy
- Disturbance of consciousness without satisfactory medical explanation
- Transient loss of control of nervous system functions without satisfactory medical explanation
Cardiovascular conditions (limited list)
- Myocardial infarction
- Coronary heart disease requiring treatment
- Cardiac valve replacement
- Heart replacement
If you’re anywhere near these, it’s worth treating it as a “get expert help” situation (AME consult + careful FAA reading).
FAQ 5) How do I get BasicMed (step-by-step)?
The FAA’s basic workflow is:
- Confirm you qualify (driver’s license + prior medical after 7/14/2006, etc.).
- Fill out your portion of the CMEC, then get a physical exam from a state-licensed physician who completes the physician section.
- Complete an FAA-approved online BasicMed medical education course (two free options are listed by the FAA: AOPA and Mayo Clinic).
- Save the signed CMEC and course completion certificate in your logbook for safekeeping.
FAQ 6) Which online BasicMed courses count?
The FAA lists two free online courses:
- AOPA BasicMed course
- Mayo Clinic BasicMed course
Also, the regulation requires that, upon completion, certain items are electronically provided and transmitted to the FAA by the course process (including your completion certification and driver registry access authorization).
FAQ 7) What aircraft can I fly under BasicMed?
Under the updated rules, the aircraft must be:
- Authorized to carry not more than 7 occupants
- 12,500 lbs maximum certificated takeoff weight (MTOW)
- Operated with no more than 6 passengers onboard
- Not a transport category rotorcraft certified under part 29 (this is the key rotorcraft carve-out in the expanded definition)
FAQ 8) What are the operating limits (altitude, speed, IFR, etc.)?
Under BasicMed, the flight (each portion) must not be conducted:
- Above 18,000 ft MSL
- Above 250 knots indicated airspeed
- Outside the United States, unless the foreign country authorizes it
- For compensation or hire
The FAA also explicitly notes BasicMed operations may be VFR or IFR within those limits.
FAQ 9) How many passengers can I carry?
You may carry up to 6 passengers (and the aircraft may be authorized for up to 7 occupants total).
FAQ 10) Can I fly internationally on BasicMed?
The regulation allows flight outside the U.S. only if the country you’re flying in authorizes it.
AOPA maintains a list of jurisdictions that authorize BasicMed privileges (including Mexico, The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, and several U.S. territories/associated states). Always verify right before you go—acceptance can change.
FAQ 11) Can I instruct as a CFI while using BasicMed?
Yes—FAA guidance explicitly includes Flight Instructors among those who can fly under BasicMed.
And the medical regulation also contemplates exercising flight instructor privileges under the § 61.113(i) framework.
(If you need privileges that require a 2nd class medical—e.g., certain commercial operations—BasicMed won’t replace that.)
FAQ 12) Can I act as a safety pilot under BasicMed?
The FAA includes “required flightcrew member (such as a safety pilot)” under who can fly BasicMed.
As always, make sure your specific safety pilot scenario actually makes you a required flightcrew member under the operating rule you’re using.
FAQ 13) What documents do I need to keep—and do I have to carry them in the plane?
Regulations require you to have available in your logbook:
- The completed medical examination checklist (CMEC)
- The course completion certificate
Many pilots store these electronically so they can produce them if requested. The key is: keep them accurate, legible, and retrievable.
FAQ 14) Heads-up: the CMEC form still shows the old (pre-2024) aircraft limits
As of late 2025, AOPA reported (and the FAA acknowledged) that FAA Form 8700-2 (CMEC) still references the old BasicMed limits (6 occupants / 6,000 lbs) even though the law and regulations expanded privileges in 2024.
Practical takeaway: use the FAA-provided CMEC for the exam, but rely on the current rule (and the FAA BasicMed page) for the actual aircraft/passenger limits you can operate under.
FAQ 15) Where do I go to confirm “the rule” if I’m unsure?
If anything conflicts:
- The regulation text (e.g., 14 CFR § 61.113(i) and § 61.23(c)(3)) is controlling.
- FAA’s BasicMed page is a helpful plain-English summary (including the expanded 2024 limits).
- Use reputable pilot advocacy resources (AOPA) especially for international acceptance and practical compliance tips.
