The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) issued the following after the FAA released its final rule for third class medical reform which the agency has named BasicMed:

Teams of AOPA experts are now examining the regulations, which at first look appear to closely mirror the legislation signed into law on July 15, 2016. Pilots should note that BasicMed will not be effective until May 1, so they cannot fly under the rule until then.

“BasicMed is the best thing to happen to general aviation in decades,” said AOPA President and CEO Mark Baker. “By putting medical decisions in the hands of pilots and their doctors, instead of the FAA, these reforms will improve safety while reducing burdensome and ineffective bureaucracy that has thwarted participation in general aviation.” In the near future, AOPA will offer a free online medical course to let pilots comply with the rules of BasicMed. The course is just one part of a suite of resources for pilots andphysicians that AOPA is launching to help people take full advantage of BasicMed.  We’re calling them our “Fit to Fly” resources and they include aninteractive tool that helps you determine if you qualify for BasicMed as well as FAQs and other important information for pilots and doctors.

Baker said, “AOPA’s Fit to Fly resources will help ensure pilots can fly under the reforms we fought so hard to pass.”