Regulation
FAA ends single-pilot flying in the Citation I, II, Bravo and Ultra
Published November 8, 2026.
Since September 28, 2026, the FAA, the US civil aviation authority, no longer allows Citation 500-family jets certificated for two pilots to be flown by a single pilot. The change covers the Citation I, II, S/II, V, Ultra, Bravo and Encore. Below is what the official document says and what it means for anyone who owns, buys or sells one of these aircraft.
What the FAA decided
In a notice published in the Federal Register, the US government's official journal, the FAA announced that it will stop granting the exemptions that allowed Citation 500-family jets certificated for two pilots to be flown single-pilot. Existing exemptions will be rescinded.1 The policy took effect on the publication date, September 28, 2026. AIN had reported the decision three days earlier.1,3
For pilots, the consequence is direct: logbook endorsements that authorized single-pilot operation in these aircraft are no longer valid. They must fly with a second-in-command, as required by the type certificate limitations and by sections 91.9 and 91.531 of the FAA rules.1,2 The FAA notes that a proficiency check completed during the training can still be used to serve as pilot-in-command in a two-pilot operation.1
Which models are affected
The table in the official notice lists the transport category models, over 12,500 pounds, that were covered by the exemptions:1
| Model | Common name | Pilots required |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | Citation and Citation I | 2 |
| 550 | Citation II | 2 |
| S550 | Citation S/II | 2 |
| 552 | T-47A, US Navy | 2 |
| 560 | Citation V and Citation Ultra | 2 |
| 550 | Citation Bravo | 2 |
| 560 | Encore and Encore+ | 2 |
The versions certificated under Part 23, the standard for smaller aircraft, are not affected: the Model 501 (Citation I/SP) and the Model 551 (Citation II/SP). They can be flown single-pilot when fitted with the equipment required by the flight manual.1 The Mustang (510) and the CitationJet family (525) are not on the list.
Why the FAA changed course
The notice gives three reasons:1
- Widespread non-compliance. In a review that began in 2024, the FAA found incomplete records, training in a simulator not permitted by the exemption, and improper checks, some with falsified records. Of the 14 Part 61 exemption holders, 13 were denied an extension or had their exemption rescinded.1
- Accident rate. According to the FAA, over the last 18 years transport category Citation 500s flown single-pilot were involved in about twice the accident rate of models certificated for one pilot (Part 23 500-family, 510 and 525). The rate was calculated on the number of aircraft, not on hours flown.1
- Recent accidents. The notice cites a fatal accident on May 22, 2025, with six dead on board and eight injured on the ground, whose pilot had received an improper check. It also cites another in Statesville, North Carolina, on December 18, 2025, with the pilot flying without a qualified second-in-command. Both remain under NTSB investigation, with no probable cause determined.1
The FAA adds an oversight problem: the exemption was granted to the training provider, but it was the pilot who used it, often without knowing when it had expired.1
What changes for owners
Anyone who flew alone now needs a second-in-command on every flight under FAA rules.1,2 In practice that means hiring or training that pilot and probably reviewing the insurance. Costs vary widely from case to case and we found no official figures, so we do not estimate them here.
Single-pilot flights made before the notice, with an endorsement from a provider whose exemption had already been rescinded, will be handled by the FAA under its Compliance Program.1
What changes for buyers and sellers
This part is our reading as brokers. It is not in the official notice.
- A buyer who plans to fly alone: under FAA rules, a Citation II, Bravo or Ultra is no longer an option. The alternatives are the versions certificated for one pilot, such as the Citation I/SP and Citation II/SP, or the CitationJet family. We have listed examples of both SP models: Citation I/SP N98AV and Citation II/SP N5TR.
- A buyer who already flies with two pilots: nothing changes in the operation. There may even be more supply, if owners who flew alone decide to sell.
- A seller: it is worth stating in the listing how the aircraft is operated today and whether the crew is already two pilots. It is one of the first questions a well-informed buyer will ask.
- Outside the United States: the notice concerns FAA rules, which apply to flights in the United States and, with caveats when abroad, to US-registered aircraft.2 Other authorities, such as EASA in Europe and ANAC in Brazil, have their own rules, which need to be checked case by case.
Sources
- FAA, "Notice of Policy Change and Rescission of Single-Pilot Training Exemptions for Certain Cessna Aircraft", Federal Register, Sept. 28, 2026, docket FAA-2026-12343: federalregister.gov
- eCFR, 14 CFR Part 91 (sections 91.1, 91.9 and 91.531): ecfr.gov
- AIN, "FAA Will Rescind and Cancel Cessna Citation Single-pilot Exemptions for Certain Models", Sept. 25, 2026: ainonline.com