Seat STC Expands BasicMed Fleet

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Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA has issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to Aeronautix, allowing pilots to operate specific larger Piper aircraft (Seneca, Cherokee Six, Lance, Saratoga) under BasicMed medical certificates.
  • This STC addresses BasicMed's restriction on aircraft certified for six or fewer occupants, as these Piper models were often certified for seven seats despite not always having them installed.
  • To comply with the STC, the seventh seat must be removed from the aircraft (if present), and the aircraft is then formally restricted to a six-seat configuration.
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The FAA has issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) that will allow pilots to fly two larger Piper aircraft under BasicMed medical certificates. Under BasicMed, pilots are restricted to aircraft certified to carry six or fewer people. Senecas and most Cherokee Six aircraft and their derivatives are certified as seven-seat aircraft although few actually have seven seats. The STC, which was issued to Aeronautix, requires the removal of the seventh seat in aircraft that have them and restricts them to six seats.

“By installing the Aeronautix BasicMed 6 Place Occupancy Restriction STC your seven place aircraft becomes a six place aircraft and meets the requirements of BasicMed (14 CFR 61.113(i)),” said company spokesman Jonathan Adams. The development of the STC arose when Seneca, Six, Lance and Saratoga Owners petitioned the FAA to allow them to fly their aircraft under BasicMed. The FAA responded by saying the seating capacity could be altered through an STC so Aeronautix got the paperwork started. The STC was issued June 1.

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