Citation II and Bravo owners: what the two-pilot rule will cost

On December 18, 2025, a Cessna Citation 550 owned by former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, registered N257BW operating a personal flight under Title 14 CFR Part 91, was destroyed in a fatal accident near Statesville, North Carolina. The accident, which took place at approximately 10:15 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, led to the death of the pilot and six passengers, Biffle among them.Less than a year after the crash, the FAA announced that operators of the legacy Cessna Citations in the CE-500 family, including the Citation II and Bravo, can no longer fly them with a single pilot. The notice, published in the Federal Register Sept. 28 and effective Sept. 29, cites the Statesville accident, in which the pilot was operating without a qualified second-in-command. The NTSB investigation is ongoing and has not determined a probable cause. The FAA's decision was based on safety concerns and a review of CE-500 accidents over the last 18 years that revealed that "Part 25 CE-500 aircraft operated with a single pilot are involved in approximately twice the rate of accidents as Part 23 CE-500, 510 and 525 aircraft flown with a single pilot." In an in-depth review of compliance that the FAA began in 2024, it found that "13 of the 14 Part 61 exemption holders were denied an extension or had their exemption rescinded either for failing to respond to information requests or for non-compliance" with certain conditions and limitations.This recent policy change in exemptions that have allowed certain Cessna aircraft that require two pilots to operate as a single-pilot operation means that aircraft operators may also park the aircraft until there is greater regulatory certainty, Rob Balzano, the CEO of Citation Jet Pilots, said in an email to GlobalAir.com. According to him, aircraft operators could also move to a management company or professional flight department model or opt for reduced utilization because of the increased operating costs and logistical complexity.Owner-pilots are also weighing whether to hire a second pilot. One could also fly with a qualified co-owner or step across to a single-pilot jet. Finally, there's the option to sell. Option Realistic cost Fastest path The catch Hire a second pilot $600 to $1,000 per day Qualified SICs will be harder to find. Balzano cites greater demand for them "at a time when experienced pilots are already in short supply" Insurer requirements for that pilot, per 5X5 Aviation Insurance Fly with a qualified co-owner One-day SIC courses are quoted at $2,600 by Executive Flight Training (not specific to the CE-500) and $3,500 by ATP Academy (CE-500) One day at those providers (ATP Academy says a second day may be needed); 12 to 14 days for Simcom's initial CE-500 course The co-owner must meet the 14 CFR §61.55 second-in-command requirements and the insurer's approved-pilot requirements Step across to a single-pilot jet Average asking price on GlobalAir.com, Oct. 5, 2026: CJ2 $2.6M, CJ3 $5.1M, Mustang $2.1M, M2 $4.1M, versus $1.5M for the Bravo Jet Linx says a pre-owned purchase usually runs 30 to 90 days from accepted offer to closing. Selling the Bravo first averages 204 days on market (GlobalAir.com) Fewer options; capability trade-off Sell Citation II: $788,600 average asking price; Citation Bravo: $1.5M (6 listed) Citation II: 181 days on market; Citation Bravo: 204 days on market Thin inventory, long days on market What does a second p?ilot cost a Citation Bravo? or Citation II owner?According to Rob Balzano, a qualified SIC can cost approximately $600 to $1,000 per day (depending on market conditions and mission requirements), before considering associated travel, lodging, training, and scheduling impacts, which bring the actual cost much higher. According to Balzano, "for owners who chose these aircraft specifically for single-pilot operations, this represents a substantial and often unexpected increase in operating costs." He also pointed to greater demand for qualified SICs at a time when experienced pilots are already in short supply.The money is only half of it. Insurers set their own requirements for a second pilot, and those can differ from what the regulations require. Insurance premiums vary considerably (depending upon the individual risk) so it would be difficult to set a range, as ranges can be misleading when applied broadly. Doug Tibbs, Managing Director of 5X5 Aviation Insurance, which has a discount partnership with Citation Jet Pilots, told GlobalAir.com that owners should confirm the second pilot meets the policy's approved-pilot requirements before the aircraft is operated, and that this conversation with the insurer should happen now, not at renewal. On what an insurer will weigh, he said:"Where two pilots are required, insurers will still evaluate the qualifications, experience and training of both pilots, along with the aircraft, utilization, loss history and overall risk profile. Adding a second pilot does not automatically produce a particular premium outcome in either direction; the impact depends on the crew and the account as a whole."A lower-cost route is a non-professional SIC trained to qualify. A person who might serve as a second-in-command must meet the qualifications in §61.55. Among them, a person who has a "private pilot certificate with the appropriate category and class rating" must, within the previous 12 calendar months, have become familiar with the aircraft and logged pilot time in the type or a flight simulator that represents the type, including three takeoffs and landings to a full stop as sole manipulator of the controls, engine-out procedures, and crew resource management training. If the flight is IFR, the second-in-command also needs an instrument rating. On domestic flights within U.S. airspace, a type rating is not required. Independent providers quote one-day SIC courses at $2,600 (Executive Flight Training, an insurance-approved simulator course not specific to the CE-500) and $3,500 (ATP Academy, one day of ground school and one flight, with a second day possible), while Simcom's initial CE-500 course runs 12 to 14 days.According to Balzano, the concern is greater than the cost of a second pilot, as there is a "cumulative impact on affordability, accessibility, operational flexibility, and the value proposition of these aircraft for the owner-flown community."Can a co-owner be my second pilot on a Citation II or Bravo?A co-owner can be your second pilot, and it may be the cheapest route if you have a partner who flies. The co-owner has to meet the same §61.55 qualifications described above, and the insurer has to approve that pilot.Many of these jets are owned jointly. FAA registry data as of Oct. 5, 2026 shows 848 of the 1,243 actively registered Citation 500, 550, S550 and 560 jets owned by LLCs, which can mean partners.The notice also allows a Section 61.58 proficiency check to count toward the two-pilot PIC requirement, as the FAA notes that "if a pilot received a § 61.58 proficiency check during the course complying with the Candamp;Ls of the exemption, that pilot can still use that completed proficiency check to satisfy the pilot-in-command requirements for a two-pilot operation in a CE-500 model aircraft."Should a Citation Bravo or Ultra owner step across to a single-pilot jet?If flying alone matters to you more than cabin space does, you can step across to a single-pilot jet. The Citation I/SP (501) and II/SP (551) are certificated under Part 23 and aren't affected by the rescission, but they're scarce: 221 are actively registered with the FAA, and GlobalAir.com lists two Citation I/SPs. For most owners the realistic options are a CJ, a Mustang or an M2. One has to note that the Mustang and M2 are a step across or down in cabin and capability, as the following data shows: Specification Citation Bravo CJ2 CJ3 Mustang M2 Typical passengers 7 6 7 4 7 Cabin length About 15 ft 8 in 13 ft 7 in 15 ft 8 in 9 ft 9 in 11 ft 0 in Cabin height/width About 4 ft 8 in / 4 ft 10 in 4 ft 9 in / 4 ft 10 in 4 ft 9 in / 4 ft 10 in 4 ft 6 in / 4 ft 7 in 4 ft 7 in / 4 ft 8 in Range, full payload 1,290 nm 1,075 nm 1,374 nm 718 nm 700 nm Maximum range 1,720 nm 1,530 nm 2,040 nm 1,200 nm 1,550 nm Source: GlobalAir.com aircraft pages, Oct. 2026. The Bravo cabin figures are approximate, drawn from charter and broker listings that differ by a few inches.On price, GlobalAir.com's average asking price is $2.1M for the Mustang, $2.6M for the CJ2, $4.1M for the M2 and $5.1M for the CJ3, against $1.5M for the Bravo. Samples are small and model years differ, so treat the averages as a rough guide.What can I get if I sell my Citation II or Bravo now?At press time, GlobalAir.com listed eight Citation IIs (six in the U.S.). These aircraft have an average of 181 days on the market, with an average asking price of $788,600. At the time of writing, the six Citation Bravos listed on GlobalAir.com have an average asking price of $1.5M and 204 days on market. This shows that the inventory is thin and slow-moving. Balzano also pointed to potential pressure on Citation II and Bravo resale values while demand rises for aircraft that retain single-pilot certification.What to watchIn a Sept. 29 letter to FAA Flight Standards Service Executive Director Hugh Thomas, NBAA and CJP asked for a delay of at least 90 days and an FAA-industry working group to review the evidence. The letter, signed by NBAA's Heidi Williams and CJP's Rob Balzano, says a temporary stay "would not prevent oversight or enforcement against a specific entity presenting a demonstrated safety or compliance concern."CJP has filed Freedom of Information Act requests for the data behind the decision. In its email to GlobalAir.com, CJP is also encouraging "every pilot, aircraft owner, and operator affected by this issue to make their voice heard. The aviation community is best served when regulators fully understand the real-world operational, economic, and safety implications of policy changes. Whether you operate a Citation II, Bravo, or another affected aircraft, now is the time to engage, stay informed, and participate in the discussion." CJP has also invited owner-operators who want to support advocacy initiatives, engage with other operators, and contribute to ensuring the owner-flown community has a strong voice to join Citation Jet Pilots at www.CitationJetPilots.com.For all the owner-pilots that are affected, make sure that you call your insurer first and learn about what it requires of a second pilot and what it does to your premium. You should also get one quote for a contract SIC, regardless of whether you hire one. You'll want to have an estimate of the cost. Finally, you can also get a listing value. After all, you should know what your airplane would bring before you decide.