Rich, thanks for posting this. It is important to note that this delay applies ONLY to required crew, which would be the Captain, First Officer and the Flight Engineer for most aircraft. This does NOT apply to those pilots I take care of, who have 2nd or 3rd Class medical certificates. With this in mind, please take a look at the expiration date of your medical certificate and plan accordingly.
I know what you are thinking..."I am required crew for flying my Super Cub, so this applies to me." That is not my interpretation, and I seriously doubt it will be the interpretation of the FAA.
This is likely NOT to be a free "Get Out of Jail" card, imho.
From AOPA:
“The Notice states that from March 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020, the FAA will not take legal enforcement action against any person serving as a required pilot flight crewmember or flight engineer who holds a medical certificate that expires within this time period,” FAA staff told AOPA leaders in an email that arrived March 26 with the new policy attached, ahead of its publication in the Federal Register. “This action allows medical resources (such as doctors appointed by the FAA as Aviation Medical Examiners) to be utilized where they are needed the most during this unprecedented situation, as well as lowers the risk of transmission of the virus during these aviation medical examinations that would otherwise take place. With this action, the FAA is exercising our enforcement discretion while still maintaining the highest levels of aviation safety in the National Airspace System.”
Q: Will your AME perform the FAA exam or BasicMed exam?
My Answer:
1. Plan ahead.
2. Please don't go in early, so to speak, and get an exam right now if you don't need it. For example, if your medical expires the end of May, don't schedule the exam for April, just to make sure you get it in.
3. If you have a cough, or low grade fever, even if you are scheduled for the exam, Please Oh Please, cancel your appointment and self quarantine.
While your AME may want to keep you flying, your AME and all the members of his/her health care team are putting themselves at risk in taking care of you.
Please don't risk infecting me or my staff by ignoring or minimizing your symptoms.
These guidelines are quite fluid, and I would expect it to change often.
Your AME/BasicMed doc may have different ways of looking at this, so please check with them. Thanks for considering this as we move through this pandemic together.
Randy