AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2022 - 108

FLY WITH AOPA
MEDICAL LY SPEAKING /
You're not
alone
Reviewing the basics
of BasicMed
ALTHOUGH F I VE YEARS old, BasicMed is
still one of the most common subjects of
calls to the AOPA Pilot Information Center.
The calls we receive help us understand
why pilots are opting for BasicMed.
In many cases, the deciding factor involves
a special issuance authorization from the
FAA. The ongoing process of renewing
a medical under an authorization can be
expensive, time consuming, and frustrating.
Fortunately, about 95 percent of pilots
who apply for a medical are issued the certificate
by the AME at the time of exam.
For those pilots who can relatively easily
qualify for an FAA medical, the benefit to
using BasicMed is the additional two years
of duration without the need for a physical
exam. For pilots on special issuance, the
benefits are even more substantial.
The special issuance is required just one
time, after which the pilot can qualify for
BasicMed, potentially saving thousands of
dollars in annual health care provider visits,
CONTACT AOPA
ADDRESS CHANGE?
Send us your new address and
AOPA membership number:
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798
Fax: 301-695-2375
aopa.org
TOLL-FREE PILOT
INFORMATION CENTER
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
pilotassist@aopa.org
AOPA FOUNDATION
800-955-9115
aopafoundation.org
AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE
800-638-3101
airsafetyinstitute.org
108
AOPA PILOT / March 2022
CREDIT CARD PROGRAM
The best card for pilots.
877-787-3171
aopa.org/creditcard
AIRCRAFT FINANCING
800-627-5263
finance.aopa.org
PERSONAL INSURANCE
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/membership/personal
PILOT PROTECTION
SERVICES
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/pps
TRAVEL DISCOUNTS
aopa.org/cars | aopa.org/hotels
BY GARY CRUMP
Pilot Protection
Services
medical tests, and delays while waiting for
the renewal of that annual authorization.
You may hold a medical certificate and a
BasicMed qualification at the same time.
If, while using BasicMed, you develop
one or more of the 11 conditions that
require the one-time special issuance, you
cannot continue with BasicMed until the
FAA has granted that special issuance, but
again, you only need to do it once.
The BasicMed physical exam with a
state-licensed physician is required every
48 months to the day. You do not send anything
regarding BasicMed to the FAA. The
only data the FAA receives is sent electronically
via the submission of the certificate
form you complete at the end of the medical
self-assessment course. You are not required
to carry the paperwork in the airplane.
There is no penalty for allowing the
physical exam or course to expire, other
than not being legal to operate with
BasicMed until you renew. Gary Crump
is the director of medical certification for the
AOPA Pilot Information Center.
aopa.org/basicmed
AOPA PILOT
INFORMATION
CENTER HOURS
Do you have questions or
need information about an
aviation topic? Access the
team of aviation experts in our
Pilot Information Center. Call
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
Monday through Friday, 8:30
a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time,
with your questions.
Visit aopa.org/membership
to learn about upgrading
to our higher levels of
membership with Pilot
Protection Services coverage
included.
Notice of annual meeting
of members /
The annual meeting of the members
of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association will be held at 9 a.m.
on Thursday, May 19, 2022, at the
headquarters of AOPA, 421 Aviation
Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701,
located on the Frederick Municipal
Airport (FDK), for the purpose of
receiving reports and transacting
such other business as may properly
come before the meeting, specifically
including the election of trustees. If you
are not able to attend, but would like to
appoint your voting proxy, please visit
aopa.org/myaccount or call 800-8722672.
-Justine A. Harrison, Secretary
AV I AT ION F INANCE
Adam answers /
BY ADAM MEREDITH
President, AOPA Finance
Q When I'm ready to do my
multiengine training, I plan
to purchase my own airplane
for training. Your thoughts?
A It's a good idea to
purchase an aircraft for
flight training, because you
can leverage the four Cs:
Consistency: It's a lot
easier when you are flying
the same airplane and not
having to learn nuances of
one avionics setup versus
another.
Comfort: When it's your
airplane you make it the
way you want, knowing it's
clean, safe, and organized.
Control: If it's your airplane
the only issue you need to
coordinate is when it's in for
maintenance.
Cost: By using your own
aircraft, your hourly usage
rate should be much less.
aopafinance.org
800-62-PLANE (75263)

http://www.aopa.org/myaccount http://www.aopa.org/basicmed http://www.aopa.org/creditcard http://www.aopa.org http://finance.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/membership/personal http://www.aopa.org/membership http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopafinance.org http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/hotels

AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2022