Seat STC Expands BasicMed Fleet

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA has issued a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) allowing certain larger Piper aircraft (e.g., Seneca, Cherokee Six, Lance, Saratoga) to be flown under BasicMed.
  • BasicMed typically restricts pilots to aircraft certified for six or fewer people, while these Piper models are usually certified for seven.
  • The STC, issued to Aeronautix, requires the removal of the seventh seat, officially reclassifying the aircraft as a six-seater to meet BasicMed requirements.
  • This development arose from aircraft owners petitioning the FAA to allow their seven-seat aircraft to be eligible for BasicMed.
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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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