09/27/2026
One pilot. Zero margin for error.
When the FAA revokes single-pilot exemptions for classic Cessna Citations next week, it’s not just a regulatory update - it’s a watershed moment for business aviation. Safety is finally catching up to the cockpit door.
For decades, exemptions allowed a single pilot to fly older light jets (like the Citation I, II, V, Bravo, and Encore) after specialized training. But following widespread compliance failures - and underscored by the tragic December 2025 Statesville crash that claimed the lives of racing legend Greg Biffle and his family - the era of soloing complex business jets is coming to a hard stop.
The NTSB’s preliminary findings from the Statesville tragedy laid bare a dangerous reality: a cockpit manned by a single-pilot-rated captain flying without a qualified copilot in challenging conditions.
The aviation community is divided on what comes next:
Two brains are always better than one in a high-performance jet, especially when things go sideways in IMC (instrument meteorological conditions). Single-pilot waivers stretched human factors to the absolute limit.
Finding qualified second-in-commands (SIC) amid an ongoing pilot shortage will put severe financial and logistical pressure on owner-operators and small charter fleets.
Starting next week, if you fly these classic birds, you need a qualified second pilot in the right seat. No shortcuts. No exceptions.
What’s your take? Are these new FAA mandates long overdue to protect the skies, or will the pilot shortage make compliance an uphill battle for owner-operators?
