The FAA has announced a significant policy change affecting a portion of the Cessna Citation fleet.
In a notice scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on September 28, 2026, the FAA announced that it will cease issuing exemptions that have allowed certain Cessna Citation aircraft—aircraft otherwise requiring two pilots—to be operated single-pilot. The FAA also stated that current exemptions will be rescinded through separate action.
For Cessna Citation owners, operators, buyers and sellers, the distinction is important: this does not eliminate single-pilot operations across the Cessna Citation family.
Instead, the change affects certain CE-500-series aircraft that require two pilots under their certification or applicable regulations and have historically relied on an FAA exemption to permit single-pilot operation.
Which Cessna Citation Models Are Affected?
The FAA identifies the following Cessna Citation models as covered by the single-pilot exemptions being discontinued:
- Citation 500 / Citation I
- Citation II
- Citation S/II
- Citation V
- Citation Ultra
- Citation Bravo
- Citation Encore
- Citation Encore+
- Model 552 / Navy T-47A
The FAA’s notice lists each of these aircraft as requiring two pilots.
For more than four decades, however, the FAA has issued exemptions allowing qualifying pilots to operate certain CE-500-series aircraft single-pilot after completing the required training and endorsement process.
That is now changing.
The FAA states that it will stop issuing the exemption and will issue rescissions to training providers currently holding valid exemptions. Pilots who received logbook endorsements under those exemptions will no longer be able to rely on those endorsements for single-pilot authority once the exemption relief is terminated. Affected aircraft will have to be operated with two pilots in accordance with their applicable operating limitations.
Why Is the FAA Making the Change?
The FAA cites both compliance and safety concerns.
Beginning in 2024, the agency conducted an in-depth review and says it identified numerous instances of noncompliance with the conditions and limitations attached to the exemptions. According to the FAA, 13 of 14 Part 61 exemption holders were ultimately denied an extension or had their exemption rescinded, either for failure to respond to information requests or noncompliance.
The FAA also reviewed accident data and stated that Part 25 CE-500 aircraft operated single-pilot were involved in approximately twice the rate of accidents as Part 23 CE-500, CE-510 and CE-525 aircraft flown single-pilot. The FAA concluded that the exemptions no longer demonstrate an equivalent level of safety and are no longer in the public interest.
What About the Cessna Citation Mustang (CE-510) and Citation Jet (CE-525) Family?
This is perhaps the most important distinction for Cessna Citation buyers.
The FAA’s policy change does not rescind the certificated single-pilot capability of aircraft such as the Cessna Citation Mustang (CE-510) or Citation Jet family (CE-525).
Those aircraft are fundamentally different from the affected models because their single-pilot operation does not depend on the exemption being eliminated in this notice.
In fact, the FAA’s own safety analysis separately references Part 23 CE-510 and CE-525 aircraft flown single-pilot when comparing them with the affected Part 25 CE-500 aircraft.
That distinction could become increasingly important in the Cessna Citation resale market.
What Could This Mean for Values?
It is too early to assign a specific percentage adjustment to any affected model. The market will ultimately determine the financial impact through inventory, transaction volume, days on market and actual selling prices.
Nevertheless, we believe the policy change could have meaningful consequences for the affected aircraft.
Single-pilot capability has historically expanded the potential buyer pool for aircraft such as the Citation Ultra, Bravo and Encore. For an owner-pilot, eliminating the exemption changes more than a training requirement—it changes the operating economics of the aircraft.
An owner who previously intended to personally fly an aircraft may now need access to a qualified second pilot. That introduces additional cost, scheduling considerations and operational complexity.
For corporate operators already utilizing two professional pilots, the impact may be relatively limited. For owner-operators who specifically selected these aircraft because of their ability to be operated under a single-pilot exemption, the impact could be considerably greater.
The result could be a smaller addressable buyer pool for affected aircraft.
Could the Cessna Citation Mustang and Citation 525 Series Benefit?
Potentially.
The policy change may strengthen one of the most important differentiators of the Cessna Citation Mustang and Citation Jet family: their ability to be operated single-pilot does not depend upon the exemption program the FAA is discontinuing.
Consider a buyer evaluating an older Cessna Citation primarily for owner-flown operations.
A Citation Bravo may now be compared differently against a Citation CJ1 or CJ2. Likewise, buyers considering a Citation Ultra or Encore may give additional consideration to aircraft within the Citation CJ2+, CJ3 or other CE-525 markets.
The missions and capabilities of these aircraft are not identical, so substitution will not be one-for-one. But for buyers who place significant value on single-pilot operation, the certification distinction has suddenly become much more consequential.
Rather than expecting an immediate dramatic increase in CE-510 and CE-525 values, we believe the first effects are more likely to appear in liquidity.
Affected CE-500-series aircraft could experience longer marketing periods, greater negotiating pressure or increasing inventory if owner-operators decide to sell. At the same time, certificated single-pilot Citations could experience additional buyer interest and stronger absorption.
If those trends persist, valuation differences could follow.
A New Distinction in the Cessna Citation Market
For years, buyers could evaluate many Citations based primarily on mission, acquisition cost, operating expense, condition and equipment.
The FAA’s decision introduces another distinction that buyers should now consider carefully:
Single-pilot by certification versus single-pilot by exemption.
Until now, that distinction may not have materially affected the practical utility of an aircraft for a properly qualified owner-pilot. Going forward, it could have a meaningful effect on both operating economics and resale considerations.
At NextBird, we will be closely monitoring inventory levels, asking prices, transaction activity and days on market across the affected Cessna Citation models as well as the CE-510 and CE-525 markets.
It will take time for actual transactions to establish the full effect of this policy change. But for anyone currently buying, selling or valuing an affected Cessna Citation, the FAA’s decision should now be part of the conversation.
Choose NextBird for Your Next Transaction
At NextBird, LLC, we combine ethical representation, deep market knowledge, and complete transaction management to make aircraft sales and acquisitions seamless. Whether you’re buying or selling, our goal is simple—deliver results with integrity and precision.
