Recap: FAA Rescinds Single-Pilot Training Exemptions for Legacy Cessna Citation Jets
The primary source provides the details behind this update.
On 2026-09-28, the FAA published a policy statement in the Federal Register announcing it would cease issuing exemptions that had allowed certain transport-category Cessna Citation CE-500 series jets to be flown single-pilot for over 40 years. The current exemptions take effect September 29, and the agency will rescind them through separate actions. A review of 14 Part 61 exemption holders found 13 lost their exemptions or were denied extensions due to incomplete records, unauthorized training-device use, falsified proficiency checks, improper proficiency-check records, and two fatal accidents involving pilots lacking valid authorization. The policy does not affect Part 23-certified Citation Mustang, CJ family, or 501/551 SP variants.