To become or remain a certificated pilot under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, you must obtain a valid medical certificate or complete a Basic Med evaluation. The process begins when you complete FAA Form 8500‑8 (via the online FAA MedXPress system), which captures your personal, medical, and flight-history information. After submission, you meet with a designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), who reviews your application, verifies your identity, and performs