NEW STUDENT, NEW MEDICAL

摘要

Q: A new-to-our-school student pilot came into the flight school recently and, upon checking his credentials, I noted he was flying under BasicMed. Can student pilots qualify for and fly under BasicMed? A: Yes, they can. But there is a caveat that goes along with that. Assume someone who has never touched the controls of an aircraft walks into your school and wants to learn to fly. You give them the usual spiel about times, costs, requirements, and other considerations. This person cannot solo using BasicMed; unless he or she is flying under sport pilot regulations, the student must obtain a medical certificate (any class is fine) prior to solo. The reason is that since there is no established medical history with the FAA, a new student pilot must first begin with a medical certificate. Now, if two years later, this 44-year-old student pilot is still plugging away at earning the private pilot certificate, the medical is about to expire. There are two options to continue: Obtain a new medical certificate or qualify for and fly under BasicMed.