Pushback to the FAA’s sudden and unexpected move to halt single-pilot operations in certain models of Cessna Citation jets continued this week, with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) becoming the latest to urge the agency to rethink the decision.
The FAA announced the change in a Federal Register notice, citing safety concerns and a 2024 review that “revealed widespread noncompliance with the exemptions.” The agency began granting single-pilot exemptions for Citation aircraft in 1984. Many of them went to training providers under 14 CFR Parts 61, 141, and 142, allowing them to conduct single-pilot operations.
The FAA said it will rescind and cease issuing these exemptions and immediately require two-pilot operations for the following aircraft originally certified for two-pilot crews under Part 25:
- Citation and Citation I (Model 500)
- Citation II (Model 550)
- Citation S/II (Model S550)
- Navy T–47A (Model 552)
- Citation V and Citation Ultra (Model 560)
- Bravo (Model 550)
- Encore (Model 560)
- Encore+ (Model 560)
As a result of prior exemptions, many of these aircraft since the 1980s have regularly operated with a single pilot. Current exemption holders will have their exemptions rescinded through separate action.
The rule change does not impact single-pilot operations of Citation jets certified as single-pilot aircraft. Citing registration data, AeroTime reported that about 1,250 U.S.-registered Citation models are covered by the policy.
AOPA Pushes Back
The FAA’s decision to rescind and cease granting the single-pilot exemptions caused confusion among operators and industry associations.
The rule change followed high-profile crashes involving Citation aircraft, one of which killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others. However, the retired airline pilot involved in that incident—which the FAA cited—flew without a qualified copilot despite lacking a single-pilot exemption.
NTSB investigations of the accidents cited by the FAA remain open and have not determined probable cause.
In a letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, David Boulter, AOPA’s vice president of regulatory affairs, called the FAA’s decision “all or nothing” and said it “makes no sense to punish compliant and safe operators with this order.” Boulter contended that most single-pilot exemption holders exceed the requirements of the exemption. He asked the FAA to “immediately halt” the total denial of exemptions and rescind them only for operators who do not meet those standards.
“Any deficiencies in operations under this exemption should have been identified and corrected long before such drastic action, without industry collaboration, was taken,” Boulter concluded.
Robert Geske, senior manager of safety analysis at the AOPA Air Safety Institute (ASI), added that ASI is “still working to duplicate the results and conclusions reached by the FAA,” among which is that the accident rate for Part 25 CE-500 aircraft operated by a single pilot is twice that of Part 23 CE-500, 510, and 525 aircraft flown with a single pilot.
The agency also said it revoked single-pilot exemptions for 13 out of 14 Part 61 exemption holders that it investigated due to various noncompliance issues.
AOPA said the FAA should “immediately establish an industry work group to evaluate and formulate recommendations in order to move forward together to improve safety.”
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) association have also questioned the FAA’s decision. The CJP submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to examine the data the agency used in its analysis of single-pilot Citation incidents.
Textron Aviation said in a statement earlier this week that it “supports the FAA’s commitment to aviation safety and stands ready and available to support customers.”