By Aviation Recruiting | For Citation owners, flight departments, charter operators, and pilots
For more than 40 years, many owners of older Cessna Citations flew them alone. The aircraft were certificated for two pilots, but an FAA exemption program first granted in 1984 let qualified pilots fly them single-pilot after specialized training and a logbook endorsement.
That ended on September 29, 2026.
The FAA rescinded the single-pilot training exemptions for a long list of legacy Citation models, effective immediately. For owner-operators and small flight departments, the change turns a one-pilot operation into a two-pilot operation overnight. For pilots, it opens up right seats that didn’t exist a month ago.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. What changed
In a notice published in the Federal Register on September 28, the FAA rescinded or denied extensions for the single-pilot exemptions covering these models:
- Model 500 (Citation and Citation I)
- Model 550 (Citation II and Citation Bravo)
- Model S550 (Citation S/II)
- Model 552 (Navy T-47A)
- Model 560 (Citation V, Citation Ultra, Citation Encore, and Encore+)
The exemptions had relieved pilots from the two-pilot requirements of 14 CFR 91.9 and 91.531. According to the FAA, logbook endorsements issued under those exemptions are now “no longer valid,” and pilots “must cease single-pilot operations in aircraft that require two pilots under the regulations.”
The notice did not include a transition period. The FAA said it will apply its Compliance Program principles to pilots whose endorsements came from training providers that lost their exemptions before the notice.
Not on the list: The Model 501 and 551 (Part 23 single-pilot variants) and the CE-525 CitationJet/CJ family were not included. Every owner should confirm the requirements for their specific aircraft against its type certificate data sheet and operating limitations.
2. Why the FAA did it
The FAA said it began reviewing the exemption program in 2024. Of 14 Part 61 exemption holders it reviewed, 13 were denied extensions or had their exemptions rescinded.
The agency cited two main concerns:
- Accident data. Over 18 years, single-pilot Part 25 CE-500-series Citations had “approximately twice the rate” of accidents of comparable single-pilot Part 23 Citation models, according to the FAA.
- Compliance problems. The FAA reported incomplete training records, improper proficiency checks, and other noncompliance among exemption holders. It concluded the exemptions “do not provide an equivalent level of safety to the regulations.”
3. The industry is pushing back, but plan for two pilots
NBAA and Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) sent a letter to the FAA on September 29 asking for at least a 90-day pause, temporary relief for compliant operators, and an FAA–industry working group to review the findings. AOPA also asked the FAA to hold off and to separate compliant operators from those that broke the rules.
NBAA and CJP have questioned the data behind the decision, noting the accident comparison was based on the number of aircraft rather than flight hours. CJP has filed Freedom of Information Act requests for the FAA’s analysis. NBAA’s Heidi Williams said the association is “ready to work with the agency and the Citation community on a response that addresses documented risks.”
As of mid-October, the FAA had not announced a pause. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is scheduled to open the “Meet the Regulators” session at NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas on October 20, and this issue is expected to be part of the conversation.
What it means: Relief may come, but no one should schedule trips around it. Until the FAA says otherwise, affected aircraft need two qualified pilots.
4. The crewing math for owners and flight departments
The rule change is simple. The staffing problem it creates is not. Every affected flight now needs a qualified second-in-command, and that affects:
- Scheduling. Short-notice trips now depend on two people being available, not one.
- Budget. Plan for SIC pay or day rates, training, travel, and possible insurance changes.
- Qualification. The SIC must meet the FAA’s second-in-command requirements for the aircraft. One piece of good news from the FAA notice: a pilot who completed a 61.58 proficiency check under the exemption’s conditions can still use it to meet pilot-in-command requirements for two-pilot operations.
- Backup coverage. One SIC isn’t a plan. Illness, vacation, and conflicts happen. Owners who fly often should line up more than one qualified pilot.
For many owners, the most practical answer will be a mix: a regular SIC for routine flying, plus a vetted contract pilot or two for the trips that come up at the last minute.
5. A new door for pilots
For pilots looking to build turbine experience, this is an opening. Owners and small flight departments across the country now need qualified right-seat pilots for jets they used to fly alone.
The pool of pilots who could fill those seats is growing. ALPA reported this month that the number of certificated flight instructors holding valid medicals rose 30%, from 82,469 in July 2021 to 107,155 in July 2026.
But the competition for good pilots is heating up again, too. ALPA found the largest U.S. airlines hired 3,863 pilots in the 12 months ending July 2026, up 74% from the same period a year earlier. Owners who want reliable SICs will need to offer professional pay, clear expectations, and a good experience in the seat.
What Citation owners and flight departments should do now
- Confirm your aircraft’s status. Check your model against the FAA list and your type certificate data sheet.
- Stop single-pilot operations in affected models. Don’t wait on a possible pause.
- Find your SIC now, not the day before a trip. Start with one primary SIC and at least one backup.
- Call your insurance broker. Ask how two-pilot operations affect your coverage, pilot requirements, and premium.
- Review your training plan. Make sure both seats are qualified, current, and documented.
- Consider your options. For some owners, contract crew or a management company may make more sense than hiring full-time.
What pilots should do now
- Get qualified. Find out what it takes to meet SIC requirements for the Citation models in your area.
- Get your records ready. Current certificates, medical, logbook totals, and training records help you move quickly.
- Act like a crewmember, not a passenger. Owners who have flown solo for years want a right-seat pilot who is prepared, professional, and easy to fly with.
- Be clear about your availability. Full-time, part-time, and on-call contract roles are all possible. Say what works for you.
The bottom line
The FAA’s decision puts a second pilot back in the cockpit of hundreds of legacy Citations. Whether or not the industry wins a pause, owners and flight departments that build a reliable two-pilot plan now will keep flying without disruption. For pilots, it’s a chance to step into the right seat of a jet.
Need a qualified SIC or contract pilot for your Citation, or looking for your next right-seat role? Aviation Recruiting connects owners, charter operators, and corporate flight departments with experienced pilots, technicians, and aviation professionals across the country. Contact us today and let’s talk about your crew.
