AFS-14-144-E 

August 28, 2014 

 Exemption No. 11045 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2002-11491 

 

Mr. Brian Richardet 

Manager, Airworthiness 

Cessna Aircraft Company 

One Cessna Boulevard 

Wichita, KS 67277 

Dear Mr. Richardet: 

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our 

decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, 

including the date it ends. 

 

The Basis for Our Decision 

By letter dated January 29, 2014, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) for an extension of Exemption No. 10527, as 

amended. That exemption from §§ 91.9(a) and 91.531(a)(1) and (2) of Title 14, Code of 

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) permitted Cessna to allow certain qualified pilots of Cessna 

Citation model 550, S550, 552, or 560 aircraft to operate those aircraft without a pilot who is 

designated as second in command (SIC). The amendment you requested would extend the 

exemption for 3 additional years. Exemption No. 10527 expired on May 31, 2014. Therefore, 

we will treat your request as a new petition. 

Although Cessna requested to extend the exemption for 3 years, the FAA finds that it is in the 

best interest of safety to review this exemption every 2 years to ensure that there has been no 

change in the circumstances or regulations from which the exemption is granted. 

Additionally, please note that the FAA has amended the conditions and limitations of your 

previous exemption. Since Cessna does not hold an air agency certificate issued under 

part 142, the FAA has removed those conditions and limitations that were specific to part 142. 
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The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to Cessna. 

The FAA has issued grants of exemption under circumstances similar in all material respects 

to those presented in your petition. In Summary Grant of Exemption No. 6480, as amended, 

and No. 10004 (copies enclosed), the FAA noted that, although the Cessna Citation model 

500 (CE-500) series airplane was initially type-certificated under part 25, which requires 

operation with two pilots, the airplane was subsequently type-certificated under part 23 for 

single-pilot operation. The FAA pointed out that this is the only turbojet airplane that has 

evolved into single-pilot operations. Furthermore, the FAA noted that the part 23 and part 25 

Cessna Citations are identical from an operational standpoint. Therefore, the FAA determined 

that, in view of the past single-pilot operating experience of CE-500 series airplanes typecertificated under part 23, an exemption with appropriate conditions and limitations to permit 

single-pilot operations of CE-500 series airplanes type-certificated under part 25 would not 

have an adverse effect on safety. In addition, the FAA found that such grants of exemption 

were in the public interest because operators are provided with increased operating flexibility 

and reduced economic burdens. 

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that— 

 they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed 

Grant of Exemption Nos. 6480 and 10004; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption Nos. 

6480 and 10004 also apply to the situation you present; and 

 a grant of exemption is in the public interest. 

Our Decision 

The FAA has determined that utilizing a Pilot Proficiency Examiner (PPE) for renewal checks 

would meet an equivalent level of safety because a PPE is authorized by the Administrator to 

conduct the pilot-in-command (PIC) proficiency checks required by § 61.58. The FAA finds 

that an authorized PPE would be able to conduct the proficiency check associated with the 

single-pilot authorization renewal in the CE-500. The FAA finds the conduct of this renewal 

check by a PPE to be at an equivalent level of safety relative to proficiency checks that are 

currently conducted by PPEs for other turbo-jet powered aircraft per § 61.58. 

On August 31, 2011, the FAA published “Pilot in Command Proficiency Check and Other 

Changes to the Pilot and Pilot School Certification Rules” final rule in the Federal Register 

(76 FR 54095) (copy enclosed) which amended § 61.58. Section 61.58 now requires a PIC 

proficiency check for the type of aircraft identified in this petition. The training outlined in the 

conditions and limitations section of this exemption requires an end-of-course check as part of 

the FAA-approved training program. That check meets the requirements for the “proficiency 

check conducted by a person authorized by the Administrator, consisting of the aeronautical 
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knowledge areas, areas of operations, and tasks required for a type rating, in an aircraft that 

is...turbojet-powered...” To that end, the FAA has added the following text as 

Condition/Limitation No. 14: “Successful completion of the proficiency check used in the 

single-pilot initial authorization and authorization renewal training program identified in 

Condition/Limitation No. 7 satisfies the requirements of the PIC proficiency checks required 

by § 61.58(a)(1) and (2).” 

The FAA has amended some of the conditions and limitations of your previous exemption, 

Exemption No. 10527, to match other similar exemptions that have been granted to operators 

that do not hold an air agency certificate issued under part 142. While the relief granted does 

not change substantially, the petitioner should take note of the new text because certain 

conditions and limitations have changed. 

For example, the FAA notes that Exemption No. 10527 erroneously referenced part 142 

training program approval from the FAA Flight Standards District Office that has 

jurisdictional authority over Cessna Aircraft Company. This reference has been removed. 

Alternatively, the FAA has amended Condition/Limitation #2 to require Cessna receive and 

maintain approval of its single-pilot training program from the FAA’s General Aviation and 

Commercial Division (AFS-800). This condition and limitation has also been amended to 

describe the requirements for Cessna’s training program approval and to allow adequate time 

for Cessna to submit and receive approval for its required training manual. 

In accordance with § 11.83, Condition/Limitation No. 22 was also added which requires 

operations under this exemption to be limited to use only within the United States. If Cessna 

wishes to be able to operate under this exemption outside the United States, Cessna must 

make a request with a petition for relief and give the FAA the reason for this use. 

 Under the authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113 and 44701, which the FAA 

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant Cessna Aircraft Company, an exemption from 

14 CFR §§ 91.9(a) and 91.531(a)(1) and (2) to the extent necessary to permit Cessna to allow 

certain qualified pilots of Cessna Citation airplanes covered by the CE-500 type rating to 

operate those aircraft without a pilot who is designated as SIC, subject to the following 

conditions and limitations. 
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Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption applies to pilots operating Cessna Citation model 500, 550, S550, 552, 

and 560 airplanes who have successfully completed Cessna’s approved single-pilot 

authorization program and complied with all of the terms of this exemption. 

2. This exemption is effective for the conduct of the required training and checking only 

if Cessna’s single-pilot training program receives and maintains approval from the 

FAA’s General Aviation and Commercial Division, AFS-800, 800 Independence 

Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20591 as described below. 

a. Cessna must forward a copy of its training manual to the FAA’s General 

Aviation and Commercial Division, AFS-800, 800 Independence Avenue, 

SW., Washington, D.C. 20591 or, as an alternative, submit it electronically to 

9-afs-800-correspondence@faa.gov no later than 30 days after the date of the 

issuance of this exemption. 

b. Cessna must receive approval of its training manual from AFS-800 no later 

than 90 days after the date of issuance of this exemption. 

c. The training manual and approval documentation must be made immediately 

available to any representative of the FAA Administrator, upon request. 

3. The single-pilot operations described in this exemption may only be conducted under 

part 91. No part 135 operations are authorized under this exemption. 

4. Each pilot conducting single-pilot operations under the terms of this exemption 

must— 

a. Successfully complete Cessna’s CE-500 single-pilot program before 

conducting such operations; 

b. Hold an airline transport pilot certificate with a CE-500 type rating or a 

commercial pilot certificate with an airplane instrument rating and CE-500 

type rating before entering Cessna’s CE-500 single-pilot program; 

c. Have logged at least 1,000 hours of total pilot flight time, including at least 50 

hours of night flight time; 75 hours of instrument flight time, 40 hours of 

which are in actual instrument meteorological conditions; and 500 hours as 

pilot-in-command (PIC), SIC, or both, in turbine-powered airplanes; 

d. Not perform any circling instrument approaches to minimums of less than 200 

feet and 1 mile above the published minimums until after completing 100 

hours of single-pilot flight experience in CE-500 series airplanes; 
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e. Not perform any straight-in instrument approaches to minimums of less than 

100 feet and one-half statute mile visibility above the published minimums 

until after completing 100 hours of single-pilot flight experience in CE-500 

series airplanes; 

f. Use a boom microphone; and 

g. Use a fully functioning autopilot that is controllable about three axes and 

capable of approach coupling. 

5. The CE-500 single-pilot initial authorization and authorization renewal program must 

include–– 

a. Ground instruction appropriate to the CE-500 series airplane given by an 

instructor employed by Cessna (designated in accordance with Cessna’s 

approved procedures) that covers at least the following aeronautical knowledge 

areas: 

i. Weight and balance computations; 

ii. Use of performance charts; 

iii. Significance and effects of exceeding airplane performance limitations; 

iv. Principles and functions of airplane systems; 

v. Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations; and 

vi. Night and high-altitude operations. 

vii. Any additional training areas necessary to address safe operations of 

the airplane. 

b. Flight instruction appropriate to the CE-500 series airplane given by an 

instructor employed by Cessna (designated in accordance with Cessna’s 

approved procedures) that covers at least the following areas of operation: 

i. Preflight preparation; 

ii. Preflight inspection and procedures; 

iii. Taxiing; 

iv. Normal and crosswind takeoffs and departures; 
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v. In-flight maneuvers including configuration changes, approaches to 

stalls, and steep turns; 

vi. Simulated powerplant failure (actual powerplant failure if 

accomplished in a flight simulator); 

vii. Instrument procedures; 

viii. Precision and nonprecision approaches; 

ix. Missed approaches; 

x. Landings and approaches to landings; 

xi. Normal and crosswind landings; 

xii. Landing with a simulated powerplant failure (actual powerplant failure 

if accomplished in a flight simulator); 

xiii. Normal and abnormal procedures; 

xiv. Emergency procedures; and 

xv. Post-flight procedures. 

6. The instruction required in Condition No. 5b may be completed in an approved flight 

simulator, qualified as–– 

a. A Level A or B flight simulator, provided the applicant satisfactorily 

accomplishes as part of the training program the following in-flight maneuvers 

and procedures as sole manipulator of the controls in a CE-500 series airplane 

(Cessna Citation model 550, S550, 552, or 560) : 

i. Exterior preflight inspection; 

ii. Taxiing; 

iii. Normal and crosswind takeoffs (minimum of three); 

iv. Normal and crosswind approaches and landings (minimum of three); 

v. Landing from a precision approach; 

vi. Missed approach 

vii. Approach and landing with a simulated powerplant failure; 
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viii. Landing from a circling approach; and 

ix. Landing from a no flap or nonstandard flap approach. 

b. A Level C or D flight simulator provided the applicant has performed at least 

three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop as the sole manipulator of the 

flight controls in the CE-500 series airplane (Cessna Citation model 550, S550, 

552, or 560) within the preceding 90 days. 

7. An applicant seeking to obtain or renew a single-pilot authorization under this 

exemption must–– 

a. Satisfactorily complete Cessna’s single-pilot training program; 

b. Satisfactorily complete the program’s required qualification module, 

consisting of a stand-alone proficiency check in either a CE-500 series airplane 

(Cessna Citation model 550, S550, 552, or 560), an appropriately qualified and 

approved flight simulator, or a combination thereof; 

c. Satisfactorily complete this proficiency check— 

i. Within 10 days of completing the training; and 

ii. For those applicants obtaining an initial authorization, the check must be 

under the supervision of an appropriately rated FAA inspector, Designated 

Pilot Examiner (DPE), or Training Center Evaluator (TCE) who is 

qualified and authorized to conduct either § 61.58 proficiency checks or 

type rating practical tests in CE-500 series flight simulators or airplanes 

(Cessna Citation model 550, S550, 552, or 560), as appropriate. 

iii. For those applicants renewing an authorization, the check must be under 

the supervision of an appropriately rated FAA inspector, DPE, TCE, or 

Pilot Proficiency Examiner (PPE) who is qualified and authorized to 

conduct either § 61.58 proficiency checks or type rating practical tests in 

CE-500 series flight simulators or airplanes (Cessna Citation model 550, 

S550, 552, or 560), as appropriate. 

d. Satisfactorily complete all tasks listed in the Airline Transport Pilot and 

Aircraft Type Rating Practical Test Standards that are required for an initial 

CE-500 type rating; and 

e. Satisfactorily perform all maneuvers and procedures as a single-pilot during 

the entire proficiency check. Training to proficiency during the check is not 

permitted, and failure of any maneuver shall result in failure of the proficiency 

check. 
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8. The circling approach requirement must be accomplished in an airplane or in a 

simulator that is qualified for the circling approach task. 

9. Until the circling approach task has been satisfactorily demonstrated to an FAA 

inspector or FAA-designated examiner in an airplane or in a simulator that is qualified 

and approved for the circling approach task–– 

a. The applicant’s records will be annotated with the statement, “Demonstration 

of circling approach was not accomplished;” and 

b. A person who has received the single-pilot authorization must not perform 

circling approaches as the PIC when weather conditions are less than the 

weather minimums for visual flight rules. 

10. A person who previously has received a single-pilot authorization in a Cessna Citation 

model 500, 550, S550, 552, or 560 airplane must complete Cessna’s single-pilot 

differences training program to obtain a single-pilot authorization for a different 

Cessna Citation model. 

11. All flight training conducted in accordance with this exemption, in a CE-500 model 

500, 550, S550, 552, or 560 airplane, must be given by a flight instructor employed by 

Cessna who also meets the requirements of Condition/Limitation No. 4 of this 

exemption. 

12. An applicant seeking to obtain a single-pilot authorization must satisfactorily 

complete ground and flight training through Cessna’s FAA-approved single-pilot 

training program and must receive training on the differences between the model 

presented by the simulator in which training is received and the model of Cessna 

Citation (Cessna Citation model 550, S550, 552, or 560) for which single-pilot 

authorization is sought. 

13. A single-pilot authorization will be valid for 12 calendar months. A person who 

renews a single-pilot authorization in the calendar month before or after the calendar 

month in which it is due is considered to have renewed the single-pilot authorization 

when due. 

14. Successful completion of the proficiency check used in the single-pilot initial 

authorization and authorization renewal training program identified in Condition/ 

Limitation No. 7 satisfies the requirements of PIC proficiency check required by 

§ § 61.58(a)(1) and (2). 

15. All CE-500 make and model airplanes permitted to be used under the terms of this 

grant of exemption (Cessna Citation model 550, S550, 552, or 560) must have the 

following equipment installed and operational : 
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a. An autopilot with approach coupling capability; 

b. A flight director system; 

c. A boom microphone; and 

d. A transponder “ident” switch on the pilot’s control wheel. 

16. Each person must carry a copy of this exemption and a record from Cessna 

documenting successful completion of its training and checking requirements aboard 

the airplane when operating under the terms of the exemption. 

17. Upon request, Cessna must provide any representative of the FAA Administrator with 

an analysis of training and checking operations conducted under this exemption with 

respect to program failure rates, extra training time required, accident and incident 

data, and any known problem areas. 

18. Cessna must maintain records and make them available, when requested, to any 

representative of the FAA Administrator. These records must include all information 

required by §§ 142.73, 142.73(c)(1), 142.73(e), and— 

a. The dates of training enrollment and completion for each trainee who enrolls 

in Cessna’s CE-500 single-pilot training program; 

b. The name and number of additional training hours needed by those trainees 

who require more flight training than prescribed in the FAA-approved training 

program to pass the initial authorization or authorization renewal; 

c. The name of each trainee who failed to satisfactorily complete Cessna’s 

CE-500 training program (or withdrew from the program) and the reasons for 

the failure or withdrawal; and 

d. The name, certificate number, and address of each person who is authorized to 

operate under this exemption. 

19. No person may provide training nor may any person receive training while passengers 

are aboard any aircraft operating for the purpose of meeting the training or checking 

requirements of this exemption. 

20. This exemption is valid only for aircraft configured for operation by a single-pilot 

seated in the left pilot seat. The privileges of this exemption are prohibited for any 

aircraft with the landing gear lever positioned anywhere to the right of the center of 

the aircraft. 

21. The approved training program authorized by this exemption may not be conducted 

under any business name other than Cessna Aircraft Company. 
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22. This exemption is not valid for operations outside the United States. 

The Effect of Our Decision 

This exemption terminates on August 31, 2016, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

John Bargagallo 

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service 

Enclosures