AFS-12-534-E

February 28, 2013

Exemption No. 10209A

Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2010-1227

Mr. William Gant

Training Center Manager

SimCom International, Inc.

7860 East McClain Drive, Suite 1

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Dear Mr. Gant:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption 

No. 10209. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists revised 

conditions and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letters dated September 4, 2012 and November 5, 2012, you petitioned the Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of SimCom International, Inc., air agency certificate 

number Q8PX038K (SimCom International), for an extension of Exemption No. 10209. That 

exemption from §§ 91.9(a) and 91.531(a)(1) and (2) of Title 14 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations (14 CFR) permits SimCom International to train and check pilots of certain 

Cessna Citation airplanes covered by the CE-500 type rating to operate those airplanes with a 

single pilot, rather than with two as required by their type certificate data sheets.

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested extension of the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to SimCom 

International.
2

Our Decision

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 14 CFR § 61.58. Section 61.58 now requires 

a pilot-in-command (PIC) proficiency check for the type of aircraft identified in your petition

for exemption. The training outlined in the conditions and limitations section of this

exemption requires an end-of-course check as part of the FAA-approved part 142 course. That 

check meets the requirements for the “proficiency check conducted by a person authorized by 

the Administrator, consisting of the aeronautical 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 text that states, “Successful completion of the proficiency check used in the 

FAA-approved part 142 single-pilot initial authorization and authorization renewal training 

program identified in Condition and Limitation No. 6 satisfies the requirements of PIC

proficiency check required by § 61.58.”

The FAA has also amended the following conditions and limitations to match other similar 

exemptions. While the relief granted does not change substantially, please review the new text 

because some of the conditions and limitations have been modified and new conditions have 

been added.

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 10209

remains valid with respect to this exemption and is in the public interest. Therefore, under the 

authority provided by 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has 

delegated to me, I grant your petition, subject to the following revised conditions and 

limitations.

Conditions and Limitations

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

and 560 airplanes who have successfully completed SimCom International’s approved 

single-pilot authorization course 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 SimCom International’s single-pilot training program receives and maintains 

approval under part 142 from the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) that 

has jurisdictional authority over SimCom International’s part 142 training center 

certificate.

3. This exemption is effective only if it is listed in SimCom International’s training 

specifications, paragraph A005.

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

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

must—

a. Successfully complete SimCom International’s FAA-approved part 142 CE500 single-pilot curriculum 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 SimCom International’s part 142 CE-500 single-pilot 

curriculum;

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; 

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.

6. The CE-500 single-pilot initial authorization and authorization renewal curriculum 

must include––

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

International part 142 instructor (designated in accordance with SimCom 

International’s approved procedures) that covers at least the following 

aeronautical knowledge areas:

i. Safe and efficient operation of airplanes;

ii. Weight and balance computations;

iii. Use of performance charts;

iv. Significance and effects of exceeding airplane performance limitations;
4

v. Principles and functions of airplane systems;

vi. Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations; and

vii. Night and high-altitude operations.

b. Flight instruction appropriate to the CE-500 airplane given by a SimCom

International part 142 instructor (designated in accordance with SimCom 

International’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;

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.
5

7. The instruction required in Condition No. 6b 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:

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;

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 within the preceding 90 days.

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

exemption must––

a. Satisfactorily complete SimCom International’s FAA-approved part 142 

single-pilot curriculum;

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

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

airplane, 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. Under the supervision of an appropriately rated FAA inspector or 

SimCom International Training Center Evaluator (TCE) who is qualified 
6

and authorized to conduct either § 61.58 proficiency checks or type 

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

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

simulator that is qualified and approved in SimCom International’s training 

specifications for the circling approach task.

10. 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. The applicant must not perform circling approaches as the PIC when weather 

conditions are less than the weather minimums for visual flight rules.

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

model 500, 550, S550, 552, or 560 airplane must complete SimCom International’s 

FAA-approved part 142 single-pilot differences training course to obtain a single-pilot 

authorization for a different Cessna Citation model.

12. All flight training conducted in accordance with this exemption must be given by a 

flight instructor employed by SimCom International who also meets the requirements 

of Condition and Limitation No. 6 of this exemption.

13. A person seeking to obtain a single-pilot authorization must satisfactorily complete all 

ground and flight required by SimCom International’s FAA-approved part 142 singlepilot curriculum and must also receive training on the differences between the Cessna 

Citation model represented by the simulator used for training and checking and the 

Cessna Citation model 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 
7

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

when due.

15. Successful completion of the proficiency check used in SimCom International’s FAAapproved part 142 single-pilot initial authorization and authorization renewal 

curriculum identified in Condition No. 6 satisfies the requirements of the PIC

proficiency check required by 14 CFR § 61.58.

16. Each CE-500 series airplane operated under this exemption must have the following 

equipment installed and operational:

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.

17. SimCom International must provide a copy of this exemption to each person who is 

authorized to operate under this exemption.

18. No operator may transfer this exemption when or if ownership or lease of the airplane 

is relinquished.

19. Each person must carry a copy of this exemption and a record from SimCom

International documenting compliance with its training and checking conditions on 

board the airplane when he or she is operating under the terms of the exemption.

20. Upon request, SimCom International 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.

21. SimCom International 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 and—

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

a SimCom International Cessna single pilot curriculum;

b. The trainee name and number of additional training hours needed by any 

trainee who requires more flight training than prescribed in the FAA-approved 

curriculum in order to pass the initial authorization or authorization renewal;

c. The name of each trainee who failed to complete a Cessna single pilot 

curriculum satisfactorily or who withdrew from a curriculum along with the 

reason(s) for withdrawal; and
8

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

operate under this exemption.

22. 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.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 10209, as amended, to 

February 28, 2015, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service