FAA stops single-pilot Cessna exemptions following accidents
A 1989 Cessna 550 Citation II.
The FAA has ended single-pilot exemptions for two-pilot Cessna Citation CE-500 series jets, following several crashes and broad non-compliance.
The policy, which took effect on September 28th, will see pilots who relied upon these exemptions go back to operating with a second-in-command. This means the FAA will stop issuing single-pilot exemptions to training providers – Parts 61, 141 and 142 – for CE-500 variants that require two pilots.
Current exemption holders will have their exemptions rescinded through separate action, while pilots with single-pilot logbook endorsements from these providers are told their endorsements are no longer valid.
“The FAA finds that these exemptions do not provide an equivalent level of safety to the regulations and are no longer in the public interest,” said the agency in a notice released on Friday 25th September.
An FAA review that began in 2024 found incomplete records, required training done in advanced aviation training devices against the exemption conditions and improper designated pilot examiners (DPE) checks, some with falsified records. It found 13 of 14 Part 61 exemption holders were denied extensions or had exemptions rescinded, and some DPEs lost their designation.
The review cites two recent accidents. In May 2025, the pilot of a Cessna Citation S550 involved in a fatal crash in San Diego which killed six people had received an improper check six months before, given by a DPE employed by a Part 61 exemption holder.
The agency also mentions a December 2025 Cessna Citation 550 crash in Statesville, North Carolina that legally required two pilots, but was flown without a qualified second-in-command on board. That accident killed former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family.
Both crashes are still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and cause has not been determined.
In a statement, Textron Aviation, the company that owns Cessna, said: “Textron Aviation supports the FAA’s commitment to aviation safety and stands ready and available to support customers.”
Rob Balzano, CEO of the Citation Jet Pilots Owner Pilot Association (CJP) told CJI that while the association is still evaluating the FAA’s decision and its implications for operators, the focus remains on safety and ensuring that future actions are informed by thorough analysis and engagement across the industry.
“Significant operational decisions, like this, are best guided by accurate, comprehensive data and developed through a cooperative process that includes regulators, manufacturers, operators, training providers and industry organisations,” said Balzano. “CJP remains committed to working constructively with all stakeholders to help advance aviation safety and achieve the best possible outcomes for the community.”
The FAA issued the first single-pilot exemption to Cessna Aircraft Company in 1984.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with comment from CJP.
