FAA Opens Public Comment on BasicMed Renewal — Here’s What It Means for the 50,000+ Pilots Using It

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The Federal Aviation Administration published a Federal Register notice on June 25, 2026, inviting public comments on the renewal of its information collection authority for BasicMed — the alternative pilot medical pathway used by more than 50,000 active general aviation pilots. Comments are due by July 27, 2026, submitted through reginfo.gov under OMB Control Number 2120-0770. The current authorization for FAA Form 8700-2, the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC), expires on June 30, 2026, making this renewal essential to keep the BasicMed system functioning without interruption.

This is a procedural notice, not a policy change. But it offers a useful moment to check in on what BasicMed has become — and the one administrative issue that still hasn’t been resolved nearly two years after Congress expanded the program.

What Is the FAA Asking For?

The notice is a routine renewal under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, which requires federal agencies to seek Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval every three years for any information collection. The FAA published the original 60-day comment notice on April 22, 2026 (91 FR 21591), and this 30-day notice (Docket No. FAA-2026-4170) is the second and final round of public comment before OMB acts.

The FAA is asking for feedback on four specific questions:

Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for FAA’s performance
The accuracy of the estimated burden
Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the collected information
Ways to minimize burden without reducing the quality of the data collected

The FAA estimates the program serves approximately 50,000 individuals, with an average response burden of 21 minutes per submission and a total annual burden of 17,500 hours. Pilots take the BasicMed online course once every two years (24 calendar months) and complete the physician medical exam once every four years (48 calendar months).

For most pilots, this notice will pass quietly. But for anyone with constructive comments about how the BasicMed paperwork process could be streamlined, this is the moment to submit them.

A Quick Refresher: What BasicMed Is

For pilots who haven’t used it, BasicMed is the alternative to the traditional third-class FAA medical certificate that Congress authorized in the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 (FESSA). Section 2307 of that law directed the FAA to create a path for pilots to fly small aircraft without going through the standard medical certification process — provided certain conditions are met.

The FAA implemented BasicMed through a final rule on January 11, 2017, codified in 14 CFR Part 68. The core mechanics:

Visit any state-licensed physician. Not an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner. Your family doctor, internist, or any MD/DO can perform the BasicMed exam.

Complete the FAA Form 8700-2 checklist. Section 2 is self-assessed by the pilot. Section 3 is completed by the physician. The form covers the same medical conditions and considerations as a traditional FAA medical, but the results stay between the pilot and physician — they are not reported to the FAA.

Take an online medical education course. Available through AOPA and other approved providers. The course is free, takes about an hour, and ends with a quiz that generates a completion certificate.

Keep the records. The pilot retains the completed CMEC and the course completion certificate in the logbook (paper or electronic). The FAA may request these documents.

Renew on schedule. The medical exam is good for 48 calendar months. The online course must be completed every 24 calendar months.

That’s the entire process. No FAA paperwork submission. No special issuance applications. No risk of a denial appearing in the FAA medical record.

What Changed in 2024

The most important BasicMed update in recent years came through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, signed into law on May 16, 2024 (Public Law 118-63). Section 828 expanded the program substantially:

Aircraft weight limit increased from 6,000 pounds to 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight
Maximum occupants increased from 6 to 7 (including the pilot)
Maximum passengers increased from 5 to 6
Pilot examiners can now use BasicMed to conduct flight checks in BasicMed-eligible aircraft (Section 815)

The weight and occupant changes became effective November 12, 2024. Pilot examiner privileges went into effect on the same date.

These changes opened BasicMed to a much wider segment of general aviation. Aircraft that previously required a full third-class medical — Beechcraft Bonanzas with six seats, Cessna 210s flown with full passenger loads, Piper Saratogas, and many others — became BasicMed-eligible.

The Form 8700-2 Issue That Still Hasn’t Been Fixed

Here’s the catch. As of June 2026, FAA Form 8700-2 still cites the pre-2024 limits. The form continues to reference 6 occupants and 6,000 pounds maximum takeoff weight on pages 1 and 7 — even though Congress raised those limits to 7 occupants and 12,500 pounds nearly two years ago.

AOPA flagged the discrepancy to the FAA in late 2025. The FAA acknowledged the error and advised that the ongoing government shutdown at that time prevented updating the form. Correcting it requires going through the federal Paperwork Reduction Act process — the same process that’s now underway with this June 2026 renewal notice.

The renewal notice is the FAA’s opportunity to correct the form. Whether the corrected version reflects the current statutory limits will become clear when OMB approval is granted and the updated form is released — presumably before or shortly after the current June 30, 2026 expiration.

For pilots currently flying under BasicMed in aircraft heavier than 6,000 pounds or with 7 occupants: the law allows it. The form doesn’t yet reflect it. Pilots and physicians should use the new statutory limits regardless of what the form text says, per FAA’s official guidance after the November 2024 effective date.

How BasicMed Has Performed

Since launch in May 2017, BasicMed has been one of the most successful pieces of GA medical reform in modern history. The numbers tell the story:

More than 90,000 pilots have qualified under BasicMed since 2017 (per AOPA)
More than 50,000 active pilots are currently using it (per FAA Federal Register estimate)
Zero documented safety impact — the FAA has studied the program’s accident data and concluded BasicMed has had no negative effect on safety
No denials on record — because exam results aren’t reported to the FAA, there’s no risk of a denial appearing in the FAA medical database

For an estimated 80 percent of general aviation pilots who fly recreationally and meet eligibility requirements, BasicMed is faster, cheaper, and less stressful than a traditional third-class medical. Cost typically runs $50–$150 for the physician visit versus $100–$200+ for an AME exam, and the 48-month validity is the longest of any U.S. medical option.

The Limits That Remain

BasicMed is not unlimited. Pilots flying under it are restricted to:

Aircraft type and size. Maximum 12,500 pounds takeoff weight, 7 occupants, transport-category rotorcraft excluded.

Operating conditions. Maximum altitude 18,000 feet MSL, maximum speed 250 knots indicated airspeed, no flights for compensation or hire.

Pilot eligibility. Must have held a valid FAA medical certificate at any point after July 14, 2006. Most recent medical cannot have been denied, revoked, or suspended. Pilots with certain disqualifying conditions (specific cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric conditions listed in 14 CFR 68.9) must obtain a special issuance medical before transitioning to BasicMed.

Geographic limits. BasicMed is currently a U.S.-only program. AOPA continues to work with the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association on a reciprocal agreement that would allow BasicMed pilots to fly into Canada, but no agreement is in place as of mid-2026.

For pilots who fly internationally, fly for hire, or need to operate above 18,000 feet, a traditional FAA medical certificate is still required. For everyone else who meets the eligibility criteria, BasicMed has become the default GA medical pathway.

What’s Next

The 30-day comment period closes July 27, 2026. OMB will then act on the FAA’s renewal request, presumably before the current authorization expires on June 30, 2026 — though given the timeline, a brief gap or extension is possible.

For BasicMed pilots, nothing immediate changes. Existing CMECs and course completion certificates remain valid. Pilots can continue to renew on their normal schedules. The renewal is administrative paperwork between the FAA and OMB — invisible to the end user except in two scenarios: if the form gets updated to reflect the 2024 statutory changes (likely and overdue), or if the renewal triggers any changes to physician questions or pilot self-disclosure items (no signals of this in the current notice).

AOPA’s continued advocacy is also worth watching. The association has signaled it will push for removal of the 250-knot and 18,000-foot operational limits as safety data continues to accumulate, and continues working on the U.S.-Canada reciprocity question.

For the 50,000+ pilots currently flying under BasicMed, the program has done what it set out to do: cut the bureaucracy without cutting the safety. The renewal notice is a quiet confirmation that the system continues to function as Congress and the GA community intended.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FAA’s June 2026 BasicMed renewal notice about? The FAA published a Federal Register notice on June 25, 2026, opening a 30-day public comment period on the renewal of OMB approval for the BasicMed information collection (OMB Control Number 2120-0770). The renewal applies to FAA Form 8700-2, the Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist used by pilots flying under BasicMed. Comments are due by July 27, 2026, submitted through reginfo.gov.

Is BasicMed changing? No. The renewal is administrative — it extends the OMB approval needed for the FAA to continue collecting BasicMed data. The renewal does not change pilot eligibility, the exam process, or operating limits. The only practical change pilots may notice is an updated Form 8700-2 that finally reflects the 2024 expansion (12,500 pounds / 7 occupants).

How many pilots use BasicMed? As of June 2026, the FAA estimates approximately 50,000 active pilots are using BasicMed. More than 90,000 pilots have qualified since the program launched in May 2017, according to AOPA.

What aircraft can I fly under BasicMed? As of November 2024, BasicMed allows pilots to fly aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds (up from 6,000 pounds) and up to 7 occupants (up from 6). Transport-category rotorcraft are excluded. Pilots are restricted to altitudes at or below 18,000 feet MSL, speeds no greater than 250 knots indicated airspeed, and may not fly for compensation or hire.

Do I need to do anything before July 27, 2026? No action is required for current BasicMed pilots. The comment period is open to anyone who wants to weigh in on the FAA’s information collection process. If you have suggestions for improving Form 8700-2 or reducing the paperwork burden, you can submit them at reginfo.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-4170. Otherwise, continue flying under BasicMed on your normal schedule — the medical exam is valid for 48 months and the online course renews every 24 months.

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