The FAA has abruptly rescinded a 40-year-old policy allowing certain legacy Cessna Citation business jets to be operated by a single pilot, grounding single-pilot operations for approximately 1,250 aircraft effective September 29, 2026.

The immediate policy change, published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2026, requires operators of Part 25-certificated Cessna Citation 500-series aircraft to fly with a qualified second-in-command (SIC). In response, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and the Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) association have formally urged the FAA to pause the blanket rescission, citing a lack of industry collaboration and questioning the agency’s safety data.

Industry pushback and data disputes

In a formal letter sent to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford on September 29, 2026, AOPA requested that the agency halt the immediate implementation of the rule. AOPA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs David Boulter stated that the organization recommends the agency pause its decision to rescind the exemptions in an all-or-nothing manner.

The goal of modern safety systems is to monitor operations and use the data collected to continuously improve safety. Any deficiencies in operations under this exemption should have been identified and corrected long before such drastic action, without industry collaboration, was taken.

The FAA justified the rescission in part by claiming that the accident rate for single-pilot Part 25 Citation aircraft is approximately twice that of single-pilot Part 23 Citation aircraft over the past 18 years. Industry advocates are challenging this assertion. AOPA Air Safety Institute Senior Manager of Safety Analysis Robert Geske noted that the institute is attempting to duplicate the FAA’s results, questioning the shift to a blanket prohibition when many operators fly accident-free and exceed minimum standards.

According to reporting by AVweb, NBAA Senior Vice President of Operations Heidi Williams expressed concern that the immediate implementation of the rule without direct notice to affected operators raises serious questions. CJP CEO Rob Balzano added that his organization is focused on understanding the FAA’s underlying facts and analysis to constructively address the impact on its members. Both the NBAA and CJP have submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking the specific data the FAA used to justify the immediate rescission.

Regulatory findings and compliance issues

The FAA’s decision stems from an in-depth review of single-pilot exemptions initiated in 2024. According to the Federal Register notice, the agency discovered widespread non-compliance among training providers. The identified issues included incomplete training records, the unauthorized use of advanced aviation training devices (AATDs) contrary to exemption conditions, and improper checks conducted by designated pilot examiners (DPEs).

The agency also uncovered instances of falsified records. In response to these findings, the FAA terminated the designee authority of the involved DPEs. The regulatory crackdown has been severe; the FAA reported that 13 of 14 Part 61 training exemption holders were either denied extensions or had their exemptions rescinded entirely for non-compliance.

The history of Citation single-pilot exemptions

Textron Aviation manufactures the Cessna Citation family of business jets, which includes several variants with different certification standards. Models such as the CE-501 and CE-551 were certificated under 14 CFR Part 23 specifically for single-pilot operations. However, heavier variants including the CE-500, CE-550, and CE-560 weigh over 12,500 pounds. This weight classifies them as “large aircraft” under 14 CFR Part 25, which mandates a two-pilot crew.

In 1984, the FAA issued Exemption No. 4050, establishing a precedent that allowed single pilots to operate these Part 25 variants provided they completed specific training and checking requirements. The September 2026 rescission ends this 40-year precedent for legacy models, including the Citation I, Citation II, Citation S/II, Citation V, Bravo, Ultra, Encore, and Encore+.

According to data from Holstein Aviation, the policy change impacts an estimated 1,250 aircraft and between 400 and 800 pilots holding single-pilot endorsements. Aircraft originally certified for single-pilot use under Part 23, such as the Citation Mustang and the CitationJet (CJ) series, are unaffected by the ruling.

Recent accidents and ongoing investigations

The FAA’s scrutiny of the single-pilot exemptions follows two fatal accidents involving Part 25 Cessna Citations operated by single pilots in 2025. On May 22, 2025, a Cessna Citation S550 crashed in San Diego, California. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed six fatalities on board the aircraft, alongside eight minor injuries on the ground.

On December 18, 2025, a Cessna Citation 550 crashed in Statesville, North Carolina, resulting in seven fatalities.

The NTSB is leading the investigations into both accidents. No official cause has been determined for either event, and the final investigation reports remain pending.

AirPro News analysis

The FAA’s decision to bypass the standard notice-and-comment period in favor of an immediate rescission signals a highly aggressive regulatory posture regarding training compliance. By grounding single-pilot operations overnight for roughly 1,250 aircraft, the agency has effectively forced owners into a difficult position: either ground their aircraft, incur the significant expense of hiring a qualified second-in-command, or sell into a market where legacy Citation values are likely to drop. Furthermore, the termination of DPE authorities and the denial of 13 out of 14 training exemptions suggest the FAA views the oversight failure as systemic rather than isolated. We expect this abrupt regulatory action to trigger intense legal and political pushback from the business aviation lobby, potentially setting a precedent for how the FAA handles legacy exemptions across other aircraft types.

On September 21, 2026, Cirrus Aviation Services and Stella Jets announced an expanded strategic partnerships that will see Cirrus manage two Bombardier Challenger 850 aircraft for the Dallas-based luxury aviation brand. The agreement also integrates their respective private membership clubs, Theos and Stella ShAire, to offer by-the-seat private jet routes and curated travel experiences.

In a press release issued Monday, the companies outlined how the collaboration leverages Cirrus Aviation Services’ operational infrastructure alongside Stella Jets’ luxury concierge model. The move strengthens both operators’ footprints in the growing Texas private aviation market, building upon Cirrus’s 2025 expansion into Dallas Love Field (DAL).

Aircraft management and fleet integration

Under the new agreement, Cirrus Aviation Services will assume management responsibilities for two Bombardier Challenger 850 jets on behalf of Stella Jets. The arrangement allows Stella Jets to utilize Cirrus’s established operational framework and safety standards.

Stella Jets Founder and CEO Tia Minzoni stated that selecting the right management partner is essential for the company’s strategy.

“Cirrus brings the operational expertise, infrastructure and service standards that align with how we want our aircraft and clients supported,” Minzoni said.

Cirrus Aviation Services President Eric Grilly noted that managing the two aircraft represents a significant step in the relationship between the two companies. He emphasized a shared focus on safety, reliability, and personalized service.

Expanding membership club offerings

Beyond aircraft management, the partnership integrates the companies’ private membership programs. Theos, operated by Cirrus, and Stella ShAire, the membership arm of Stella Jets, will collaborate to provide shared benefits to their respective communities.

The joint initiative will introduce new by-the-seat flight routes and curated social experiences. Minzoni highlighted that bringing the two programs together creates opportunities to expand their communities and introduce new ways for members to travel and build connections.

The collaboration reflects a broader industry trend toward hybrid private aviation models, where operators combine traditional whole-aircraft charter with by-the-seat membership tiers to maximize fleet utilization and broaden their client base.

Strategic growth in the Texas market

The expanded partnership anchors both companies more firmly in the Dallas metropolitan area. Stella Jets relocated its headquarters to Dallas in 2022 following its acquisition by Minzoni.

Cirrus Aviation Services, founded in 2009 and historically focused on Nevada and Southern California, established a base at Dallas Love Field within the Atlantic Aviation Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) facility on September 24, 2025.

Grilly framed the Stella Jets partnership as a direct continuation of that regional growth strategy.

“Our expansion to Dallas Love Field last year was about establishing Cirrus as a long-term aviation partner in Texas, and this relationship is an example of that strategy in action,” Grilly said.

AirPro News analysis

We view this partnership as a pragmatic alignment of complementary strengths. Cirrus Aviation Services secures additional heavy jet management contracts to support its recent Dallas expansion, while Stella Jets gains the regulatory and operational backing of an established charter operator without the overhead of building an in-house flight department. The integration of the Theos and Stella ShAire membership clubs also indicates that by-the-seat private jets models continue to gain traction, requiring operators to pool resources and member bases to ensure consistent route viability and flight utilization.

Sources: Cirrus Aviation Services

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have certified the Safety Autoland system for the Pilatus PC-12 PRO, enabling the single-engine turboprop to execute fully autonomous emergency landings.

In a press release issued on September 24, 2026, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd announced the dual certification milestone for its Stans, Switzerland-based manufacturing program. The system, integrated into the Garmin G3000 PRIME flight deck, is designed to take complete control of the aircraft in the event of pilot incapacitation, navigating around weather and terrain to land safely without human intervention.

Autonomous emergency capabilities and flight testing

Once activated, Safety Autoland communicates with air traffic control, configures the aircraft for approach, lands, and shuts down the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-67XP engine. The manufacturer stated that the goal of the final certification flights was to demonstrate a fully automated landing in real-world conditions from system activation through engine shutdown.

Pilatus test pilot Patrick Willcock, who holds 8,200 total flight hours, conducted the certification demonstration flights. Speaking to aeroTELEGRAPH, Willcock detailed the system’s performance during the testing phase.

“The system has landed the aircraft so calmly and controlled that I never had the feeling I had to intervene. The PC-12 Pro put down a more precise landing than all my previous manual landings with the aircraft.”

Market context and production growth

Pilatus officially unveiled the PC-12 PRO on March 14, 2025, and completed the first delivery to the United States market on December 23, 2025. According to Aviation International News, the addition of the Garmin Autoland system brings the PC-12 PRO into alignment with other single-engine turboprops and light jets that already utilize the technology, including the Piper M600, the Daher TBM series, and the Cirrus Vision Jet.

The manufacturer has reported strong demand for the updated airframe. During the first half of 2026, Pilatus delivered 43 PC-12 PRO aircraft. Aviation International News reported this represents a 72 percent increase in deliveries compared to the same period the previous year. This production volume contributed to a 35 percent rise in company billings, reaching $535.74 million over the first six months of 2026.

AirPro News analysis

The certification of Safety Autoland on the PC-12 PRO removes a competitive disadvantage for Pilatus in the owner-flown turboprop market. With competitors like Daher and Piper having offered Garmin’s autonomous landing technology for several years, its absence on the premium-priced PC-12 was a notable gap. We view this certification as a critical step for Pilatus to maintain its market-analysis among high-net-worth owner-operators, for whom emergency automation has transitioned from a luxury feature to a baseline safety expectation.

Sources: Pilatus Aircraft Ltd