FAA Weighs Restoring Citation Single-Pilot Operations

Administrator Bryan Bedford voices support for exploring alternatives to legacy exemptions, which the agency rescinded in September.

Jack Daleo

Friday, October 23, 2026 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The FAA banned single-pilot operations and rescinded exemptions for certain legacy Citation jets, such as the model 550, in September. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA halted single-pilot operations for legacy Cessna Citation models in September, citing safety concerns, a higher accident rate, and widespread noncompliance with existing exemptions.
Following industry concerns, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is now open to exploring alternative ways, specifically a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approach, to potentially restore single-pilot privileges.
Any reauthorization would require demonstrating an equivalent level of safety, likely through additional pilot training and/or aircraft modifications, a method already used by Transport Canada.

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The FAA is reportedly open to exploring ways to restore single-pilot operations in legacy Cessna Citation models after the agency halted them in September and rescinded exemptions.

“We believe that there’s some compelling data that might provide a path to allowing single-pilot operations with some training, with an STC,” Kristie Greco Johnson, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Business Aviation Association, told FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford at the group’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas.