FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)RegulationsMedium
A pilot holds a valid BasicMed qualification and wants to act as pilot in command of a light-sport airplane while exercising sport pilot privileges (having never held any other FAA medical certificate). Does BasicMed satisfy the medical requirement for exercising sport pilot privileges?
- AYes, BasicMed satisfies any medical requirement for any pilot certificate
- BYes, but only for flights conducted during daylight hours
- CNo, sport pilots must always hold a current third-class medical certificate
- DNo, sport pilot privileges require either a valid U.S. driver's license or an FAA medical certificate meeting 61.23 requirements, not BasicMed
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. No, sport pilot privileges require either a valid U.S. driver's license or an FAA medical certificate meeting 61.23 requirements, not BasicMed
BasicMed is a medical qualification framework tied to exercising private pilot (or higher) privileges under 61.113; it is not one of the acceptable medical qualifications listed in 61.23(c) for sport pilot privileges. Sport pilots must instead use a valid U.S. driver's license or hold a current medical certificate.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. BasicMed does not apply universally; it's specific to certain 61.113 operations.
- B. Time of day has no bearing on BasicMed applicability.
- C. Sport pilots are not required to hold any medical certificate at all.
Sport Pilot Medical Qualification
To exercise sport pilot privileges, a pilot must hold a valid U.S. driver's license (meeting 61.23(c)(3) conditions) or a current FAA medical certificate—BasicMed does not qualify.
- BasicMed applies to private pilot privileges under 61.113, not sport pilot
- Sport pilots may use a driver's license or a medical certificate
- Driver's license eligibility requires no denied/revoked medical application unless later issued
Memory trick: 'Sport pilots drive or get a doc's note—not the BasicMed road.'