EAA21.ORG

It's finally here. According to Jack Pelton, EAA President:

"Years of effort by EAA and AOPA culminated on Tuesday morning as the FAA announced regulations that will implement the aeromedical reform law passed last July. The regulations will be published Wednesday as a final rule, to take effect May 1, 2017. According to the FAA, no changes have been made to the language in the law.

Because it is final, the rule – named “BasicMed” by the FAA – will not go out for a typical public comment period. The FAA also said it would publish an advisory circular describing the implementation of the rule later this week."

_________________
Steve Eberhart, W9JUQ (Jig Uncle Queen)
3EV - Evansville, IN
Where is Steve and the Sky Terrier?
RV-7A Slider, O-360 A1A, Catto 3 blade, Garmin G3X, Bionics APRS. FLYING since June 24, 2009

Uh oh... From FAA FAQ's


Q: Can I use BasicMed to act as a safety pilot, rather than holding a medical?

A: Only if you’re acting as PIC while performing the duties of safety pilot. BasicMed applies only to people acting as PIC; it cannot be exercised by safety pilots who are not acting as PIC but are required crew members.

I sincerely hope this is incorrect. I sent a note to GL FSDO to clarify.

Re: FAA BasicMed Advisory Circular AC 68-1


Date:
1/9/17
Initiated by:
AFS-
800
AC No:
68-1
Change:
This advisory circular (AC) describes how pilots can exercise student, recreational, and private pilot privileges in certain small aircraft without holding a current medical certificate. It outlines the required medical education course, medical requirements, and aircraft and operating restrictions that pilots must meet to act as pilot in command (PIC) for most Title 14 of the Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91 operations. This AC is intended to be used as a resource for pilots exercising the privileges described in section 2307 of the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016. It is also intended to be a resource for state-licensed physicians who will be providing the required medical examination to those pilots.

Status of Required Flightcrew Members.
5.2.2.1 If a pilot operating an aircraft under BasicMed carries another pilot on board who is not a required pilot flightcrew member and who is not a flight instructor providing flight instruction, that additional pilot would be considered a passenger under the FAA’s regulations. A pilot acting as a safety pilot per part 91, § 91.109(c), however, would be a required pilot flightcrew member by regulation rather than a passenger. Section 91.109(c) provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft in simulated instrument flight unless the other control seat is occupied by a safety pilot who possesses at least a private pilot certificate with category and class ratings appropriate to the aircraft being flown. Because a safety pilot is a required pilot flightcrew member, the safety pilot is required to hold a valid and appropriate medical certificate in accordance with § 61.3(a). BasicMed privileges can only be exercised by a person acting as safety pilot when that person is also acting as PIC.BasicMed privileges do not extend to anyone other than the person acting as PIC.

https://generalaviationnews.com/2017/02 ... al-reform/

The above article suggests that some insurers will still require an FAA medical despite an individuals wish to operate under BasicMed rules.