FAA bans single-pilot operations in older Cessna Citation jets

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is ending exemptions that allow pilots to fly certain older Cessna Citation jets alone in the United States, citing widespread training violations and safety concerns with aircraft originally certified for two-pilot crews.

The decision affects the Citation and Citation I, Citation II, S/II, V, Ultra, Bravo, Encore and Encore+, as well as the military T-47A variant. It applies to single-pilot operations conducted under exemptions for those aircraft.

The policy is scheduled to take effect when the notice is published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2026. The FAA says it will then rescind remaining training-provider exemptions through separate actions. Pilots relying on those exemptions will lose their single-pilot privileges at that time.

The action does not remove single-pilot certification from the Citation Mustang or CJ family. The FAA notice also distinguishes the Part 23-certified Citation 501 and 551 variants, which can be flown by one pilot when equipped as required by their approved flight manuals.

The FAA has allowed single-pilot operations under Citation exemptions for more than 40 years. Its review of 14 Part 61 exemption holders resulted in 13 losing their exemptions or being denied extensions because of noncompliance or failure to provide requested information.

The FAA said investigators found incomplete records, unauthorized use of training devices and improper proficiency checks, including falsified records. The agency terminated the designation of examiners involved in falsification of records.

An 18-year accident review found roughly twice the accident rate for Part 25 CE-500 aircraft flown single-pilot compared with Part 23 CE-500, CE-510 and CE-525 aircraft also flown single-pilot.

The agency also cited two fatal accidents involving pilots who lacked valid authorization for the single-pilot operations. Together, the crashes killed 13 people and injured eight on the ground. The notice says both investigations remain open and probable causes have not been determined.

The FAA specifically cited the December 18, 2025, Citation 550 crash in Statesville, North Carolina, that killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, his wife, their two children and three others. The agency said the aircraft was operating without a qualified second-in-command, although the crash remains under investigation and no probable cause has been determined.

Once the exemptions end, affected pilots must fly with a qualified second-in-command. Pilots who completed a qualifying proficiency check under the exemption may still use that check to meet pilot-in-command requirements for two-pilot operations.

Registry data indicate roughly 1,250 US-registered Citation models are covered by the policy.The post FAA bans single-pilot operations in older Cessna Citation jets appeared first on AeroTime.

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