Action comes after a review found widespread noncompliance and safety issues. (09/27/2026)
The FAA is banning single-pilot operations on eight models of Cessna Citation jets, from the first 500 series through to the Encore+, citing compliance and safety issues. The agency said in a policy notice (copied below) it did an investigation into 14 training organizations and 13 of them had their ability to sign off on single-pilot exemptions rescinded for noncompliance or failure to provide documentation.
The FAA also looked at Citation accidents and found that aircraft that were operated by single pilots flying on exemptions to the certification standard of two type-rated pilots were twice as likely to crash than single pilots flying newer Cessna jets that were certified for single-pilot operations.