FAA Medical Certification

An FAA Medical Certificate is more than a little piece of paper you keep in your flight bag or clip inside your pilot's logbook — in fact, it's best described as the other half of your FAA Pilot Certificate.

Just as you cannot take to the air as a Private Pilot without a valid pilot's license, you can't fly without a current Medical (or BasicMed), which confirms that you have no disqualifying health conditions that would prevent you from flying as Pilot in Command.

A Medical also serves as the basis of your own self-certification of health, which all pilots are required to affirm before every flight.

Dr. Janice Buenafe is a family physician who has been in practice since 2004, beginning her career in Nevada before moving to Oregon in 2012. She delivers primary/urgent care to the surrounding communities in the Portland area.

Dr. Buenafe's desire to have a diverse background in medicine drew her to study abroad in Uganda, England, Scotland, and eventually settle back home in the United States.

She was drawn into the world of aviation by her partner, who is a pilot and Cessna 182 owner. They enjoy taking flights to the coast and scenic areas around Oregon. Witnessing the passion that pilots have for flying prompted her to become an FAA medical examiner in 2019.

When not working, Dr. Buenafe enjoys raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, spending time with her family, cooking great meals, and meditation/spiritual development.

If you would like to meet with Dr. Buenafe for an FAA Medical exam on the Willamette Aviation campus at the Aurora State Airport, please contact our front desk at (503) 678-2252 to reserve a time. She is here on the third Thursday and fourth Saturday of every month.

• Third Class: $160
• Second Class: $160
• First Class (without EKG): $160

For a First Class Medical with an EKG, please contact Dr. Buenafe at 702-four-one-seven-2604.

If you require additional medical consultation time to organize paperwork for the FAA, such as required with new Special Issuances, Dr. Buenafe's fee is $200 per hour.

 

MedXPress Registration

MedXPress was created in 2007 so that pilots could complete an electronic FAA Form 8500-8 prior to visiting an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)

Pilots are required to complete an electronic 8500-8 prior to arriving for an appointment with an AME for a flight medical exam.

To login or register with MedXPress, visit medxpress.faa.gov.

 

The Flight Medical

The FAA medical exam assesses a pilot's health history and overall fitness for flight, including blood pressure, vision, hearing, and reflex response.

Most people who are in reasonably good health will have no problem passing an FAA Medical, provided that they do not suffer from a disqualifying condition, which primarily comprises health issues affecting the heart and nervous system, as well as any concerns surrounding mental stability and substance abuse.

You don't have to be in the best shape of your life to get a Medical. In fact, pilots with poor eyesight normally are allowed to fly with corrective lenses, while hearing-impaired pilots may be granted a Medical and fly with several operating restrictions.

If you've scheduled an FAA medical examination, you can expect to answer questions about your own personal health history while having your vision and hearing checked, along with a few other things. Pilots also must provide a urine sample for analysis.

A typical exam is a stress-free experience and takes no more than an hour.

 

Requirements and Exceptions

The FAA approves Medical Certificates in three classifications, although nearly all pilots who do not act in a commercial capacity will pursue a Third Class Medical Certificate, which is good for 60 calendar months if the date of the examination is prior to the pilot's 40th birthday, or 24 calendar months if after the pilot's 40th birthday.

In addition to holding a valid Medical Certificate, all pilots acting as Pilot in Command must self-certify his or her fitness for flight before every flight operation.

Self-certification means that the pilot has confirmed that he or she is not ill, is not taking disqualifying medication, is not suffering from undue stress or fatigue, is properly rested and nourished, and is not under the effect of alcohol or drugs, with no alcohol consumed in the past eight (8) hours and a blood-alcohol level of less than 0.04%.

Even with a valid Medical, any pilot who cannot meet these basic requirements must disqualify himself or herself from acting as Pilot in Command or a required member of any aircrew.

 

BasicMed

BasicMed was introduced in 2016 as an alternate way for pilots to fly without holding an FAA Medical Certificate.

Pilots flying under Basic Med relief must:

• Possess a valid U.S. driver's license;
• Have been issued a medical certificate after July 14, 2006;
• Have not been denied their most recent application for a medical certificate;
• Have no disqualifying medical conditions, or: have a Special Issuance as required by regulation.

Pilots meeting these requirements who intend to operate under Basic Med must:

• Complete a physical exam with a state-licensed physician every four years;
• During the physical exam, complete a Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist (CMEC);
• Complete an online BasicMed medical education course (MEC) every two years;
• Retain the signed CMEC and MEC certificates in their logbooks.

Pilots flying with BasicMed must comply with several operating restrictions.

 

Can I start my flight training under BasicMed?

It is not possible for a new pilots to bypass obtaining an initial FAA medical certificate.

While BasicMed offers some advantages to pilots when compared to a Third Class Medical, new pilots should bear in mind that a previously issued medical certificate is required before operating under this relief, and that BasicMed cannot be used if the pilot's most recent application for a medical certificate was denied.