BasicMed

Over the past several years AOPA has been attempting to pass a new process where pilots receive their medical certification.  Normally, a pilot would go to an FAA designated physician and would take their medical exam. AOPA has proposed a change that would allow an individual to self-certify, that is if they are already in receipt of medical certification, and would have to do this every several years. I have been an opponent to this because I feel that many pilots may abuse the system when they really should see a physician to be certified. 

My medical expired at the end of December 2016. I did not take the medical exam because I was at the tail end of the suspected kidney failure, and as many pilots have found out, the FAA can be real sticklers on issues like this. In the past my dealings with the FAA in my medical certification has been fairly easy. Even with my transplant surgery the process was fairly easy. So now that I have stood firmly against pilots receiving their renewal under BasicMed what did I do? I renewed my medical under BasicMed. What a hypocrite, huh? 

While the process is a little confusing it was fairly easy. My liver physician completed the paperwork with me instead of me going to my primary care physician (who I don’t know who the hell it is). My liver physician completed the paperwork because I had already scheduled an appointment with him six months prior for my annual liver review.

Many pilots are complaining because their primary care physicians are not wanting to be a part of this process with BasicMed.  With me it was easy. I’ve known my physician for over 21 years and if anyone was qualified to fill out my paperwork, he was the one.

BasicMed is a little confusing because the protocol is not completely laid out, or I was just to confused or closed minded to the process.

I am not sure if BasicMed is going to work. I wonder what are we going to do when the first pilot takes advantage of BasicMed and continues to fly when he or she should not, and causes a fatality?