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 has achieved a good initial safety record, but raises concerns due to their appeal to pilots with less prior complex aircraft experience.
• Current FAA training regulations for single-pilot turbojets are considered inadequate, lacking required curriculum and emphasis on higher-order pilot skills like risk management and automation.
• Eclipse Aviation proactively implemented a unique and rigorous multi-phase training program for its Eclipse 500, mandating essential safety elements beyond FAA minimums and incorporating them into the aircraft's flight manual.
• The article advocates for a broader training reform to shift from maneuvers-based curricula to one that emphasizes advanced pilot skills, scenario training, and risk mitigation for single-pilot turbine operations.

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