10 Best Single Pilot Flown Private Jets
The freedom you get by owning a private jet is analogous to owning your own car. The biggest difference is that you can travel much farther (non-stop) with an airplane than you can with a car and of course its considerably faster.
When you buy a private jet that requires two pilots, you instantly handicap your ability to fly somewhere without advanced preparation. An aircraft that requires a crew of two forces you to factor your co-pilot into the equation every time you want to go somewhere. He (or she) will need their own hotel room, a per-diem, a rent a car etc. etc.
On the other hand, if you purchase a jet that can be flown single pilot, you will not have to take any of the co-pilot issues into consideration. You decide where you want to go, gather your family, fuel the aircraft and off you go.
For many years Cessna's Citation ISP (SP stands for 'Single Pilot') was the only offering in the market. However, as technology and cockpit automation improved throughout the 1980's and 1990's, more and more aircraft manufacturers were jumping through the regulatory hurdles to have their aircraft certified for single pilot operations.
We have compiled a list of private jets that are certified to be flown with just one pilot. The list is NOT IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE. They all have their pros and cons, which we will get into in a later blog post...
SINGLE PILOT JET CAUTION : Flying a single pilot jet requires extensive training, experience and discipline. History is replete with stories of people who came into a fortune and rushed out to buy a jet only to end up flying it into the ground because of their inexperience.
1. Cessna Citation Mustang
The Cessna Citation Mustang is a very light jet that was built by Cessna. Launched at the 2002 NBAA convention, it first flew on April 23, 2005. It received its FAA type certification September 8, 2006, was first delivered on November 22. Production ended in 2017 after 479 aircraft were built.
2. Embraer Phenom 100
The Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 is a light business jet designed and produced by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The project was announced in November 2005. On 26 July 2007, the aircraft made its first flight.
3. Cirrus VisionJet
The Cirrus Vision SF50, also known as the Vision Jet, is a single-engine very light jet designed and produced by Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, Minnesota, United States
4. Honda HA-420 HondaJet
The Honda HA-420 HondaJet is a light business jet produced by the Honda Aircraft Company of Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. Original concepts of the aircraft started in 1997 and were completed in 1999.
5 . Beechcraft Premier I
The Beechcraft Premier 1 is a light business jet aircraft manufactured by the Beechcraft division of Hawker Beechcraft. The aircraft was designed to compete with the Cessna CitationJet series of aircraft. It is one of the fastest business jets that can be flown single pilot.
6. Cessna CitationJet
The Cessna CitationJet (also known as the Model 525) are a series of light business jets built by Cessna, and are part of the Citation family. Launched in October 1989, the first flight of the Model 525 was on April 29, 1991.
7. Eclipse 500
The Eclipse 500 is a marketing name for the Eclipse Aerospace EA500, a small six-seat American business jet aircraft originally manufactured by Eclipse Aviation and later upgraded and sold by Eclipse Aerospace. The Eclipse 500 became the first of a new class of Very Light Jets when it was delivered in late 2006.
8. Pilatus PC-24
The Pilatus PC-24 is a light business jet produced by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. It’s the only aircraft combining the versatility of a turboprop with the cabin size of a medium-light jet, and the performance of a light jet.
9. Cessna Citation M2
The Cessna Citation M2 is an upgraded version of the Cessna CitationJet it is typically outfitted with one and a half cabin zones and has a range of 700 nm. The aircraft has been in production since 1990 and there have been approximately 218 aircraft produced.
10. Embraer Phenom 300
The Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 is a light jet aircraft developed by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. The Phenom 300 is the larger sister to the Embraer Phenom 100 and was later upgraded into the Phenom 300E.