FAA head open to reviewing path for single-pilot Citation operations

US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford is signaling a willingness to examine alternatives that could allow single-pilot operations in certain older Cessna Citation jets, while defending the agency’s decision to withdraw the exemptions that previously permitted those flights.

During a one-on-one conversation opening the Meet the Regulators session at NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas, Bedford welcomed further discussion of an approach involving supplemental aircraft certification, calling it “an interesting process” and “worthy of scrutiny.”

NBAA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Kristie Greco Johnson, who led the discussion, raised the possibility of additional training and a supplemental type certificate as a way forward. She said NBAA is working with the Citation Jet Pilots Association to identify options for affected operators.

Bedford maintained that any alternative must meet the FAA’s safety requirements.

“If we can’t get to at least an equivalent level of safety, we shouldn’t be entertaining it,” he said.

The FAA’s policy, effective September 29, 2026, ended the issuance of the training exemptions and required existing approvals to be rescinded. The exemptions had allowed qualifying pilots to fly certain Citations whose operating limitations otherwise require two pilots.

Affected models include the Citation and Citation I, Citation II, S/II, V, Ultra, Bravo, Encore and Encore+.

The FAA first granted a Citation single-pilot exemption in 1984. Over time, training providers received approvals allowing them to train and check pilots, then issue the endorsements needed to operate qualifying aircraft alone.

The agency said a review begun in 2024 uncovered incomplete records, training that did not meet exemption conditions and improper checks, including falsified records. Several Part 61 exemption holders lost their approvals or were denied extensions because of noncompliance or failure to respond to information requests.

The FAA also cited an accident analysis in concluding that the exemptions no longer provided an equivalent level of safety.

Pilot groups have challenged the decision to withdraw the approvals across the board. In a September letter to Bedford, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association urged the FAA to pause the action and distinguish compliant operators from those who had failed to follow the requirements.

“It makes no sense to punish compliant and safe operators with this order,” AOPA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs David Boulter wrote.

AOPA said it supported the FAA’s authority to address safety problems but argued that treating operators who meet or exceed the requirements the same as those who violate them does not advance that goal.The post FAA head open to reviewing path for single-pilot Citation operations appeared first on AeroTime.

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