Description

As a student pilot, you will need a Third Class medical certificate to fly solo. To obtain a medical certificate you must be examined by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME). Please follow these steps to apply for and obtain your medical certificate:

1. Find a local AME of your choosing and schedule an appointment. In the Gaithersburg area, many local pilots go to Dr. David Kessler 301-740-1030, you may use the search engine in the link below to find one in your local area.

Click here to locate an AME in your area

2. Use the FAAs MedXPress site (link below) to complete in initial portion of the application. You will need to establish an account, then you will electronically complete the initial portion of the application. Please note the confirmation number, as the AME will use this number to access and complete your application (the AME will NOT have access to your application without the number, so be sure to bring it).

Click here for the FAAs MedXPress site

FAR 61.23 Medical certificate duration and requirements

FAA medical questions and answers

The exam is simple: vitals (heat rate, blood pressure, etc.), vision, hearing and general physical state (balance). You may be asked to provide a urine sample (to check for sugar in urine or diabetes). If you wear glasses, be sure to bring them as both your near and far vision will be checked. At the end of the exam, the AME will print out your medical certificate.

FAA medical standards and certification

The Federal Aviation Administration met a Congressional requirement by updating its BasicMed regulations to allow pilots to operate larger aircraft and carry more passengers.

BasicMed, which took effect in 2017, allows pilots to fly without holding an FAA medical certificate provided they meet certain conditions.



The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 expanded BasicMed to:

Increase the number of allowable passengers to six from five, and the number of occupants to seven from six.
Increase the maximum aircraft takeoff weight to 12,500 lbs. from 6,000 lbs., excluding transport category helicopters.
Allow pilot examiners to conduct flight checks using BasicMed in aircraft that are covered by the BasicMed rule. Information for examiners is available here.

Pilots must meet specific conditions to operate under BasicMed. Among other things, they must have held a valid medical certificate at some point after July 14, 2006; the most recent medical certificate cannot have been denied, revoked, or suspended; they must complete a medical exam by a state-licensed physician; they must complete an online medical education course; and they must hold a valid U.S. driver’s license.

BasicMed also includes certain limitations. Pilots cannot fly for compensation or hire and are restricted to flying at or below 18,000 feet altitude and at a speed no greater than 250 knots.



Tags: studentpilot, privatepilot, commercialpilot, instrumentpilot, instrumentrating, PvtLP, InstLP, ComLP, CFILP, CFIILP