Overview
- The FAA published the policy as Federal Register Document 2026-19843 on Sept. 28 and made it effective on publication, halting further single‑pilot exemptions for specified CE‑500 transport‑category models and initiating separate rescissions of existing relief.
- The action applies to Part 25 CE‑500 variants originally certificated for two‑pilot crews, including Models 500, 550, S550, 552 and 560 and their variants, while single‑pilot‑certificated Citation models such as the 501/551 and CE‑525 series are unaffected.
- The agency’s review, opened in 2024 and covering about 18 years of data, found that single‑pilot operation of the affected Part 25 CE‑500s had roughly twice the accident rate of certain single‑pilot‑certificated Citations and uncovered widespread noncompliance with exemption terms.
- The FAA cited specific compliance failures including incomplete records, use of prohibited advanced training devices, improper designated examiner checks and falsified records, and it denied extensions or rescinded relief for 13 of 14 Part 61 exemption holders.
- Pilots who relied on logbook endorsements tied to rescinded exemptions may no longer use them and must fly affected jets with two qualified crew members, a change that operators say will affect training, scheduling, insurance and staffing while NTSB probes into referenced 2025 fatal accidents remain open.