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:

• The new generation of small light jets (e.g., Mustang, Phenom 100, Eclipse 500) has an initial good safety record, but this may be influenced by pilots often opting for two-pilot operations or undertaking advanced, mandatory training programs.
• The author contends that current FAA regulations and industry training curricula are inadequate for ensuring safe single-pilot turbojet operations, especially for pilots transitioning from less complex aircraft, as they often neglect crucial higher-order pilot skills.
• Eclipse Aviation proactively implemented a unique, FAA-mandated rigorous training program, specified in the Eclipse 500's flight manual, which emphasized higher-order pilot skills like risk management, single-pilot resource management, and automation management, addressing perceived root causes of fatal accidents.

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