AOPA has asked the FAA to pause or narrow its decision to rescind single-pilot exemptions for older Cessna Citation CE-500 family aircraft, after the policy took effect on 29 September. The move affects legacy Citation models that were originally certified for two pilots and have long relied on exemption-based single-pilot operation in US business aviation.
In a letter to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, the association urged the agency to stop what it called a blanket denial of the exemptions and to target only operators that fail to meet minimum standards. The dispute centres on models including the Citation 500 and 550 family, as well as related CE-500 variants that have been flown under single-pilot relief since the 1980s.
The FAA’s wider action follows a review of the exemption programme that found widespread noncompliance, prompting the agency to stop issuing new relief and begin rescinding existing exemptions. The change does not affect Citation types originally certified for single-pilot operation, but it may force affected operators to return to two-pilot crews, alter training and checking practices, and raise operating costs across the legacy fleet.