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Old 2nd Jul 2005, 05:45
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ssg
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
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Bravo

Can't speak for non-US stuff..

Only the Citation family of corporate jets has single pilot certfied models. Those are the Citaiton 501SP, Citation 550 SP or IISP

That means an appropriately rated pilot gets a type rating in these aircraft and he can fly single pilot. He is limited to under 12,500 lbs Max gross, just like Part 23 aircraft. Which for instance is a Citation Jet also, two pilot BUT the pilot can get a single pilot type rating for the CJ, which on his license says CE525S, designating he has shown proficiency to fly single pilot. The CJs are the only ones that a pilot can get this special single pilot type rating that is perminent. But they are limted to 12500, being Part 23.

Now if you want to move up in the world, fly more people, fly faster, fly higher and still fly single pilot, you can do what I do..

The single pilot exemption is a just that, an exemtpion from the Part 25 rule requiring two pilots. So if you want to fly a say a Citation Ultra, Max gross of 16500, with 10 people in back, doing about .76 at 45,000, then you have to get a type in the CE500 series with a copilot, differences training in the Ultra, in that sim too, then you get to spend another fun filled week in the box doing it all again by yourself, only to take the ride in a real airplane with a real FAA guy. Bust the ride, and you come back in like a month and do it all over again, hence a high failure rate.

The FAA isn't crazy about guys like me sitting at FL45 with 10 pax in back, but the record speaks for itself no accidents with a pilot with an exemption...EVER. The program has been around for about 20 years, when the first Citation IIs came out. Only about 500 pilots have ever had this rating, and only about 100 or so are current a year. The rating expires every year, and every year you take an honest to god by yourself check ride(circling hand held approaches, raw data ect) to prove yourself good for another year. As well your flight hours have to be submitted to the FAA, usualy via flight logs, so Cessna can track the hours, accident rates, training failures, ect..

Remember to not mix up a CJ pilot with a pilot with an exemtpion, two different animals, the later taking a special single pilot checkride every year vs a type then typical non checkride type reccurent training.

Just respond to Whales comment on near jets and props being tougher to fly ect, is a typical knee jerk, not having done it response. Anyone who flies single pilot will tell you that flying a slow aicraft on a SID at 250 kts, at 5000 feet a minute climb is much tougher then flying the same SID at 160kts and 500 feet a minute. Things happen faster in faster planes, you have to be much further ahead of the aircraft. Anyone who actualy flies in the soup for a living knows this.

Also sitting single pilot at FL450 waiting for a window to blow out, closure rates of .75 and .86 RVSM airspace requires just a tad more focus then flying along at 230 kts in a tprop at FL230, never having donned an O2 mask in years. You have V speeds to think of in jets, pressurization issues, faster ref speeds ect.

Anyway, the Bravo can be flown single pilot if you get the exemption. Nice plane by the way, decent range for it's size.
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