Best Single Pilot Jets

The FAA has always handled jets differently since the very first one. On the one hand, most company jets were FAR Part 25 certificated, transportation class with an MTOW of 12,500lb or more. Aeroplanes registered in the transportation class must typically have two skilled pilot in advance, regardless of whether the aeroplane was equipped with or without jets.

By 1977, the FAA had demanded that all jet-powered aeroplanes, regardless of mass, be served by two aviators. Now, Cessna obtained FAA accreditation for a single-pilot version of its introductory Citation I called Citation I-SP. Weighing less than 12,500 lbs, the plane fulfilled a number of other FAA requirements, among them shift grip location, a fully functional auto-pilot, and the use of a speakerphone.

The Citation II-SP came soon after the certificate of the Citation I-SP. Proprietors, carriers and pilot saw the tremendous advantages of running their jets - from more versatility and lower cost to more throughput. At that time, however, an individual pilot approval for aeroplanes was granted on a case-by-case for case-by-case manner, as the FAA aeroplane producer had to prove to the FAA that the aeroplane's load could be safely managed by a single pilot.

However, newer planes, such as the Citation 525 CJeries, the Premier and even bigger turbo-props like the Big King Airs have similar working loads, but were above the 12,500 pounds mark between Part 23 and Part 25 certificated planes. Consequently, the FAA was compelled to reconsider its certifying strategy.

Jets under 12,500 lbs, such as the Citation Mustang, M2, CJ, CJ1, CJ2 and Eclipse jets, can be piloted with one pilot as they are approved for one pilot. Aeroplanes over 12,500 lbs, such as the CJ3, CJ4 and Premier, can also be piloted with a single pilot, but the pilot must have a single pilot certification and must fulfil other FAA defined requirements.

So, let's focus our minds on some of these planes. We have already spoken about the Citation 500 and 550 planes, so let's speak about the Cessna Citation 510 Mustang. Mustang is a 6-flight airplane with VLJ cockpit seats. It is driven by 2 Pratt 615F turbo fans that generate 1460 lbs of thrusts.

It' got an MTOW of 8,645 quid. And then there is the Citation 525 CJ-Serie. CJ was the precursor of Mustang, which was launched in the 1990s. Aeroplane fares vary from around 750,000 to over 8. Take, for example, the CJ2, the plane has 2 Williams FJ44 Williams thrusters, each able to deliver 2490 lbs. thrusts, 420 nodes, about 1700 sea-mile range, a capability for up to 9 and an MTOW of 12,500 lbs.

Up to 8 comfortable seats are available for about 1500 nm at 460 knot. Two FJ44s, each generating approximately 2300 lbs of thrusts and with an operating deck of 41,000 ft each, power the plane. Its MTOW is 12,500 and is between 1 and 3.5 million dollars. Next we'll take a look at the Eclipse Jet.

The Eclipse aircraft launched in 2006 was supposed to be a real personal pilot aircraft. Unfortunately, as many of you know, Eclipse had some big issues early in the game that left many folks out in the cold. The Eclipse 500 could do 370 knot for 1100 leagues on a 41,000 foot blanket.

Its MTOW is 5,950 lbs. This was followed by the enhanced version, the Eclipse 550, which was able to fly about 375 nodes at 41,000 ft over about 1200 mph. There is room for a maximum of 6 people and an MTOW of 6,000lb. It is driven by 2 Pratt and Whitney PW615F power plants.

Eclipse jets are the only jets in their kind with an automatic butterfly valve system and side sticks. Obviously there are other planes in this genre like the Phenom 100 and 300 and the new Cirrus Vision Jet, but these planes are outside the range of this happening.

However, I sincerely hopes that this will give you a better idea of your possibilities with individual pilot jets. The Airplane Intel Podcast is the once-a-week general aviation podcast for airplane owner, operator, pilot and mechanic. Providing hands-on guidance, hints and strategy to make owning an airplane easy, secure and affordable.