FAA Ending Single-Pilot Exemptions for Certain Cessna Citations

The FAA published a policy statement in the Federal Register on September 28, 2026 (Docket No. FAA-2026-12343) announcing that it will cease issuing single-pilot exemptions for certain Cessna CE-500 series aircraft that are type-certificated for two-pilot operation. The policy is effective September 29, 2026. The affected variants are all Part 25 transport-category CE-500 models: the Citation 500 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), Citation Bravo (Model 550), and Citation Encore and Encore+ (Model 560). Part 23 CE-500 variants — the CE-501 and CE-551 — are governed by different rules and are not the subject of this notice.

The FAA is issuing rescissions of currently valid exemptions as separate actions following publication of the notice. Each exemption holder will receive its own rescission; the notice does not set a single date on which all existing exemptions terminate simultaneously. The notice states that a pilot's logbook endorsement authorizing single-pilot operation of a covered CE-500 variant becomes invalid when the underlying exemption is terminated. The FAA specifically notes that because the training provider has no ongoing involvement with the pilot's operations, a pilot exercising the relief may be unaware when the exemption expires or is terminated and may continue to conduct operations for which no relief exists. There is one specific carve-out stated in the notice: if a pilot completed a 14 C.F.R. § 61.58 proficiency check in compliance with the exemption's conditions and limitations, that completed check still satisfies the PIC proficiency requirements for two-pilot operation in a CE-500 model.

The FAA's decision follows a 2024 compliance review that found widespread noncompliance among exemption holders. Thirteen of the fourteen Part 61 exemption holders were either denied an extension or had their exemption rescinded for failing to respond to information requests or for noncompliance with conditions and limitations. Documented violations included incomplete records, flight training conducted in an advanced aviation training device contrary to the conditions and limitations, and improper checks by designated pilot examiners including falsified records. The FAA also cited accident data showing that Part 25 CE-500 aircraft operated with a single pilot were involved in approximately twice the accident rate of Part 23 CE-500, 510, and 525 aircraft flown single-pilot. Two specific accidents are referenced in the notice — one on May 22, 2025 (NTSB WPR25FA161) and one on December 18, 2025 (NTSB WPR26MA063) — both of which remain under investigation with no probable cause determined.