![]()
Legacy Cessna Citations, while two-pilot certified, have carried single-pilot exemptions since the 1980s, which greatly enhanced their utility. That backdoor entrance into a value jet for owner-pilots has just been closed with the latest update from federal authorities. The FAA has announced it will stop issuing and will rescind existing single-pilot exemptions for certain legacy Cessna Citation models originally certificated for two-pilot operation. The program dates to 1984 and includes the Citation I, II, S/II, V, Ultra, Bravo, Encore and Encore+. The policy took effect Sept. 28, the day the notice was published in the Federal Register. Pilots who relied on endorsements issued under training-provider exemptions must stop all single-pilot operations unless the operating aircraft is already certificated for single-pilot use. The agency cited safety concerns, accident data and widespread non-compliance uncovered during a review of the exemption program. "At the same time, the FAA's decision to rescind these exemptions in full, effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register and without direct notice to affected operators, raises serious questions," said Heidi Williams, senior vice president of operations at NBAA. The biggest consequence of this decision is practical rather than regulatory. Many owner-pilots selected a Citation II, Citation V, Bravo, Ultra, or related models specifically because they could legally operate the aircraft without carrying a second pilot. Owners must find, train, schedule, insure and compensate a qualified second pilot or they will not be able to operate their aircraft. Why it matters While the affected aircraft remain capable, desirable and fully legal to operate, they now come with a different operating assumption than many buyers expected. For owners, that means they will either have to completely adjust their budgets and flight schedules or replace their Citation with an aircraft that can legally fly with one pilot. Both options are expensive. For brokers, that changes transaction discussions as legacy Citations may no longer fit the requirements of their clients. For anyone shopping for a legacy Citation today, it's a reminder that certification basis and crew requirements have become just as important as speed, range and cabin size.