AFS-10-134-E 

May 5, 2010 

 Exemption No. 10058 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2001-10800 

Mr. Ernest W. King III 

Vice President, Engineering 

Sierra Industries, Ltd. 

122 Howard Langford Drive 

Uvalde, TX 78807 

Dear Mr. King: 

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 12, 2010, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Sierra Industries, Ltd. (Sierra), for an extension of Exemption No. 5517, as 

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

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allowed Sierra to permit certain qualified pilots of its Cessna 

Citation model 500 (CE-500) series airplanes (serial Nos. 0001 through 0418 only) equipped 

with supplemental type certificate (STC) No. SA8176SW, STC No. SA09377SC, and either 

STC No. SA2172NM, STC No. SA645NW, or STC No. ST09559AC to operate those aircraft 

without a pilot who is designated as second in command (SIC). That exemption, however, 

expired on March 31, 2010; therefore, we will treat your request as a new petition. 

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 Sierra. 

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to 

those presented in your petition. In your original Grant of Exemption No. 5571(copy 

enclosed), the FAA found that the CE-500 model is unique in that its initial design concept 
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envisioned operations with a single pilot. To date, the Cessna Citation is the only turbojet 

airplane that has evolved into single-pilot operations. 

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

 they do not differ materially from those presented in the enclosed grant of exemption; 

 the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed exemption continue to apply to 

the situation you present; and 

 a grant of exemption is in the public interest. 

Our Decision 

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I hereby grant Sierra Industries, Ltd., an exemption from 

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

certain qualified pilots of its Cessna Citation model 500 series airplanes (serial Nos. 0001 

through 0418 only) equipped with STC No. SA8176SW, STC No. SA09377SC, and either 

STC No. SA2172NM, STC No. SA645NW, or STC No. ST09559AC to operate those aircraft 

without a pilot who is designated as SIC, subject to the conditions and limitations described 

below. Please note that the conditions and limitations have been revised and updated. 

Conditions and Limitations 

1. This exemption serves as an STC for CE-500 airplanes (serial Nos. 0001 through 0418 

only equipped with STC No. SA8176SW or STC No. SA09377SC and either STC No. 

SA2172NM, STC No. SA645NW, or STC No ST09559AC) operated with a single 

pilot under the terms of this condition, provided the pilot has complied with all of the 

terms of this exemption. 

2. This exemption is not effective unless Sierra’s single-pilot training program receives 

and maintains approval from the FAA’s General Aviation and Commercial Division, 

AFS-800, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20591. 

3. This exemption applies only to operations conducted under part 91. 

4. Each pilot conducting single-pilot operations must— 

a. Before operations, complete a single-pilot training program approved by the 

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

Independence Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20591; 

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

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

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

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

instrument flight time in actual instrument meteorological conditions, and 500 

hours as pilot in command (PIC) or SIC, or a combination of both, in turbinepowered airplanes; 

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

feet and 1 mile above the published minimums until completing at least 100 

hours of single-pilot flight experience in CE-500 airplanes; 

e. Not perform any straight-in instrument approaches to minimums of less than 

100 feet and 1⁄2 mile above the published minimums until completion of at least 

100 hours of single-pilot flight experience in CE-500 airplanes; 

f. Use a boom microphone; and 

g. Have a fully functioning autopilot, controllable about three axes that is capable 

of approach coupling. 

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

include the following: 

a. Ground instruction that includes the following aeronautical knowledge areas: 

i. Safe and efficient operation of aircraft; 

ii. Weight and balance computations; 

iii. Use of performance charts; 

iv. Significance and effects of exceeding aircraft performance limitations; 

v. Principles and functions of aircraft systems; 

vi. Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations appropriate to the 

aircraft; and 

vii. Night and high-altitude operations; 

b. Airplane/flight simulator instruction that includes the following areas of 

operation: 

i. Preflight preparation; 

ii. Preflight procedures; 

iii. Takeoff and departure phase; 

iv. In-flight maneuvers; 

v. Instrument procedures; 

vi. Landings and approaches to landings; 

vii. Normal and abnormal procedures; 
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viii. Emergency procedures; and 

ix. Postflight procedures; 

c. The instruction required in Condition No. 5(b) may be completed in the 

following two ways: 

i. In an approved flight simulator, qualified as a Level B, Level C, or 

Level D flight simulator, provided the applicant has performed three 

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

flight controls in the specific CE-500 make and model airplane (for 

serial Nos. 0001 through 0418 equipped with either STC No. 

SA8176SW or STC No. SA09377SC and either STC No. SA2172NM, 

STC No. SA645NW, or STC No. ST09559AC) within the preceding 90 

days; or 

ii. In an approved flight simulator, qualified as a Level A flight simulator, 

provided the applicant has accomplished the following maneuvers and 

procedures in the specific CE-500 make and model airplane (for serial 

Nos. 0001 through 0418 equipped with either STC No. SA8176SW or 

STC No. SA09377SC and either STC No. SA2172NM, STC No. 

SA645NW, or STC No. ST09559AC) in flight: 

1. Preflight inspection; 

2. Taxiing; 

3. Normal takeoff; 

4. Crosswind takeoff; 

5. Instrument landing system (ILS) approach; 

6. Missed approach; 

7. Simulated powerplant failure; 

8. Normal landing; 

9. Crosswind landings; and 

10. Landing with simulated powerplant failure. 

6. An applicant seeking initial single-pilot authorization, in accordance with the 

provisions of this exemption, must accomplish the following: 

a. Satisfactorily complete the training requirements as specified in the FAAapproved training course; 

b. Satisfactorily accomplish the entire practical test in flight in the specific CE500 make and model airplane; 

c. Satisfactorily accomplish the final practical test which must be conducted— 
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i. Within 10 days after the training has been competed; and 

ii. By an appropriately rated FAA-designated pilot examiner or an FAA 

inspector who is authorized and qualified to give such examinations in 

CE-500 airplanes; 

d. Except as proved in Condition No. 11, comply with the practical test 

requirements and standards appropriate to the grade and class of pilot 

certificate the applicant holds and demonstrate proficiency in circling 

approaches to the left and to the right; and 

e. Satisfactorily perform all maneuvers and procedures throughout the entire 

practical test as a single pilot. 

7. An applicant seeking renewal of single-pilot authorization in the CE-500 airplane (for 

serial Nos. 0001 through 0418 that are equipped with STC No. SA8176SW or STC 

No. SA09377SC and either STC No. SA2172NM, STC No. SA645NW, or STC No. 

ST09559AC), under the provisions of this exemption, must accomplish the following: 

a. Satisfactorily complete the training requirements as specified in the FAAapproved training course; 

b. Satisfactorily accomplish the entire practical test in one of the following three 

ways: 

i. In flight, in the CE-500 make and model airplane (for serial Nos. 0001 

through 0418 equipped with either STC No. SA8176SW or STC No. 

SA09377SC and either STC No. SA2172NM, STC No. SA645NW, or 

STC No. ST09559AC); 

ii. In an approved flight simulator, qualified as a Level B, Level C, or 

Level D flight simulator, provided the applicant has performed three 

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

flight controls in the specific CE-500 make and model airplane (for 

serial Nos. 0001 through 0418 equipped with either STC No. 

SA8176SW or STC No: SA09377SC and either STC No. SA2172NM, 

STC No. SA645NW, or STC No. ST09559AC) within the preceding 90 

days; or 

iii. In an approved flight simulator, qualified as a Level A flight simulator, 

provided the applicant has accomplished the following maneuvers and 

procedures in the specific CE-500 make and model airplane (for serial 

Nos. 0001 through 0418 equipped with either STC No. SA8176SW or 

STC No. SA09377SC and either STC No. SA2172NM, STC No. 

SA645NW, or STC No. ST09559AC) in flight: 

1. Preflight inspection; 

2. Taxiing; 
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3. Normal takeoff; 

4. Crosswind takeoff; 

5. ILS approach; 

6. Missed approach; 

7. Simulated powerplant failure; 

8. Normal landing; 

9. Crosswind landings; and 

10. Landing with simulated powerplant failure; 

c. Satisfactorily accomplish the final practical test, which must be conducted— 

i. Within 10 days after the training has been competed; and 

ii. By an appropriately rated FAA-designated pilot examiner or an FAA 

inspector who is authorized and qualified to give such examinations in 

CE-500 airplanes; 

d. Except as proved in Condition No. 11, comply with the practical test 

requirements and standards appropriate to the grade and class of pilot 

certificate the applicant holds and demonstrate proficiency in circling 

approaches to the left and to the right; and 

e. Satisfactorily perform all maneuvers and procedures throughout the entire 

practical test as a single pilot. 

8. Sierra must provide a copy of this exemption to each person who is authorized to 

operate under the provisions of this exemption. 

9. Each pilot must carry a copy of this exemption on board each airplane when operating 

under the provisions of this exemption. 

10. The circling approach requirement must be accomplished in an airplane in flight or in 

a simulator equipped with a visual system that permits accomplishment of the circling 

approach task. 

11. If the simulator used is not qualified for conduct of the circling maneuver, and the 

applicant does not demonstrate the circling maneuver— 

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

of circling approach was not accomplished;” and 

b. The applicant will be restricted from performing circling approaches as PIC 

when weather conditions are less than basic visual meteorological conditions 

until the circling approaches have been satisfactorily demonstrated, in an 
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actual airplane or simulator qualified for the circling maneuver, to an FAA 

inspector or designated pilot proficiency examiner. 

12. A person who previously has received single-pilot authorization in a CE-500 airplane 

must receive the FAA-approved differences training to obtain single-pilot 

authorization for a different Cessna Citation model. 

13. A person requesting single-pilot authorization must satisfactorily accomplish ground 

and flight simulator training in accordance with the 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 (for serial Nos. 0001 through 0418 equipped with either STC No. SA8176SW 

or STC No. SA09377SC and either STC No. SA2172NM, STC No. SA645NW, or 

STC No. ST09559AC) for which single-pilot authorization is requested. 

14. 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. 

15. All CE-500 make and model airplanes (serial Nos. 0001 through 0418 only) permitted 

to be used under the terms of this grant of exemption must have the following 

equipment installed and operational: 

a. Pratt & Whitney (P&W) JT15D-1A engines (by STC No. SA8176SW), 

P&W JT15D-4 engines (by STC No. SA09377SC), or Williams FJ44-2A 

engines (by STC No. 09559AC); 

b. Autopilot with approach coupling; 

c. Flight director system; 

d. Boom microphone; 

e. Transponder “ident” switch on pilot’s control wheel; and 

f. STC SA2172NM or STC SA645NW. 

16. Upon request, Sierra must provide the FAA’s General Aviation and Commercial 

Division, AFS-800, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, D.C. 20591, with 

an analysis of operations conducted under this exemption with respect to operational 

exposure, accident/incident data, and any known problem areas. 

17. Sierra must maintain the following records and make them available to the 

Administrator upon request— 
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a. The name, address, and dates of training enrollment and completion of each 

applicant who enrolls in its training course; 

b. The date and location where the practical test was conducted, including the 

name of the FAA-designated examiner of FAA inspector conducting the test; 

c. The names of those applicants who require more flight training to pass the 

initial authorization or authorization renewal than that prescribed in the FAAapproved training course; 

d. The amount of additional training hours required by each applicant listed in 

accordance with Condition No. 17(a) to pass the flight check; 

e. A list of those pilots who— 

i. Failed to complete the training program satisfactorily; or 

ii. Withdrew from the program and the reasons for withdrawal; and 

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

operate under this exemption. 

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

are on board the aircraft during operations conducted under the privileges of this 

exemption. 

This exemption terminates on April 30, 2012, unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely, 

/s/ 

Raymond Towles 

Acting Director, Flight Standards 

 Service 

Enclosure