AFS-15-662-E

April 21, 2015

Exemption No. 9843D

Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2008-0853

Mr. J. Don Sowell

Training Center Manager

PrestoSIM Inc.

1000 Nolen Drive, Suite 400

Grapevine, TX 76051

Dear Mr. Sowell:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition to extend Exemption No. 9843, 

as amended. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists revised 

conditions and limitations.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated February 12, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of PrestoSIM Inc. (PrestoSIM), air agency certificate number X1GX058K, for an 

extension of Exemption No. 9843, as amended. That exemption from §§ 91.9(a) and 

91.531(a)(1) and (2) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) permits PrestoSIM 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 PrestoSIM.

Our Decision

The FAA has amended the conditions and limitations of Exemption No. 9843, as amended, to 

clarify our original intent and standardize the relief with similarly granted exemptions. While 
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the relief does not change substantially, all users of the exemption should thoroughly review 

the revised conditions and limitations.

Condition and Limitation No. 8 was amended to require an applicant seeking to obtain or 

renew a single-pilot authorization under this exemption to satisfactorily complete a 

proficiency check within 30 days rather than the initially required 10 days.

New Condition and Limitation No. 10 requires the circling approach task be demonstrated to 

an FAA inspector or designated examiner. This was added to match similar exemptions and to 

ensure that pilots operating under this exemption demonstrate the task before conducting 

circling approaches when conditions are less than minimums for visual flight rules.

Condition and Limitation No. 20 has been amended for clarification and to match similar 

granted exemptions.

Condition and Limitation No. 22 was added to match similar granted exemptions and to 

ensure that pilots operating under this exemption do so only in aircraft configured for 

operation by a single pilot seated in the left pilot seat. 

Condition and Limitation No. 23 was added to match similar granted exemptions and to 

ensure the approved training course authorized by this exemption may not be conducted under 

any business name other than PrestoSIM.

Lastly, we have added Condition and Limitation No. 24 which limits this exemption to 

operations within the United States. If PrestoSIM wishes to be able to operate under this 

exemption outside the United States, PrestoSIM must make a request to the FAA in 

accordance with requirements of 14 CFR § 11.83 with a petition for relief and give the FAA 

the reason for this use.

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 9843, as 

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

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

Administrator has delegated to me, I grant PrestoSIM, Inc. relief 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, 

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 PrestoSIM’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 PrestoSIM’s single-pilot training program receives and maintains approval under 
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part 142 from the FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) that has jurisdictional 

authority over PrestoSIM’s part 142 training center certificate.

3. This exemption is effective only if it is listed in PrestoSIM’s training specifications, 

paragraph A005.

4. This exemption applies only to operations conducted under 14 CFR part 91.

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

must—

a. Complete PrestoSIM’s FAA-approved part 142 CE-500 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 PrestoSIM’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 PrestoSIM

part 142 instructor (designated in accordance with PrestoSIM’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;

v. Principles and functions of airplane systems;
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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 PrestoSIM

part 142 instructor (designated in accordance with PrestoSIM’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.

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
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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 PrestoSIM’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 30 days of completing the training; and

ii. Under the supervision of an appropriately rated FAA inspector or PrestoSIM 

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, 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 training requirement must be accomplished in an airplane or in 

a simulator that is qualified and approved in PrestoSIM’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.
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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 PrestoSIM’s FAAapproved 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 PrestoSIM who also meets the requirements of 

Condition and Limitation No. 5(a), (b), and (c) of this exemption.

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

ground and flight training required by PrestoSIM’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 

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 PrestoSIM’s FAA-approved 

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

operate under this exemption.

18. Each person must carry a copy of this exemption and a record from PrestoSIM

documenting compliance with its training and checking conditions aboard the airplane 

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

19. Upon request, PrestoSIM 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.

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

a PrestoSIM Cessna single-pilot curriculum;

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

who require more flight training than prescribed in PrestoSIM’s CE-500 

single-pilot 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 the course, along with the 

reason(s) for withdrawal; and

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

operate under this exemption following satisfactory completion of PrestoSIM’s 

CE-500 single-pilot course. 

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. The approved training curriculum authorized by this exemption may not be conducted 

under any business name other than PrestoSIM.

24. This exemption is not valid for operations outside the United States.

The Effect of Our Decision

Our decision extends the termination date of Exemption No. 9843, as amended, to April 30, 

2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

//s//

John Barbagallo

Deputy Director, Flight Standards Service