Single-Pilot Jet Safety

In the last five years, a new crop of small light jets (I promise not to call them VLJs, or very light jets) has entered the marketplace. Aircraft such as the Cessna Model 510 Mustang, Embraer Phenom 100, and yes, the Eclipse 500 are now out there in the hundreds, and they have carved a successful market niche, albeit not the one envisioned by some observers. These airplanes are designed to be flown by single pilots and its fair to ask whether or not our training and safety model for these airplanes will be up to the task. The record so far looks good but we need to look below the surface for the entire story. We should be looking at a cohort of airplanes that are destined for an excellent safety record, if we assume they will reflect the record of previous turbojet models certified for single-pilot operations.

Key Takeaways:

• A new generation of single-pilot light jets, despite an initial good safety record, raises concerns due to many owner-pilots having less prior turbojet experience than operators of older models.
• Current FAA training and type-rating regulations for single-pilot turbojets are considered inadequate, lacking required curricula and emphasis on higher-order skills like risk management and automation management.
• The Eclipse 500 proactively implemented a rigorous, multi-phase training program, mandated by an Airplane Flight Manual limitation, specifically addressing these advanced pilot skills beyond standard FAA requirements.
• The article advocates for a shift in training paradigms for single-pilot turbine aircraft, moving towards curricula that emphasize scenario-based learning and critical higher-order pilot skills to enhance safety.

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