FAA Pulls Citation Single-Pilot Authorization

Agency cites safety concerns and ‘widespread noncompliance’ with former rules.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, September 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Cessna 550 jet [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has rescinded exemptions allowing single-pilot operations in certain Cessna Citation jet models due to safety concerns.
The decision was prompted by a review revealing "widespread noncompliance" with training exemptions by providers.
Investigations showed the accident rate for single-pilot Citation jets is twice that of two-pilot operations, with issues like falsified records and improper training methods found among providers.
Current exemption holders and pilots endorsed for single-pilot operations in these specific aircraft must cease such operations.

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The FAA is halting single-pilot operations in certain models of Cessna Citation jets, citing safety concerns and “widespread noncompliance” with training exemptions.

On Friday the FAA issued a formal “Notice of Policy Change and Rescission of Single-Pilot Training Exemptions for Certain Cessna Aircraft.” The six-page report notes the change is based on safety concerns resulting from a review that “revealed widespread non-compliance with the exemptions,” which prompted the FAA to cease issuing exemptions that allow certain Cessna jets that require two pilots to be flown as a single-pilot operation.