Effective October 20, 2009 - Effective October 20, 2009 the FAA has given a final ruling that changed many of the FAR’s as they apply to training and certification for pilots of turbojet aircraft such as the Cessna Citation.
The biggest change for pilots seeking a type rating is the addition of 14 CFR Part 61.64. In the past this section has been labeled as “Reserved”. It became effective on October 20, 2009.
(FAA Docket No. FAA-2006-26661) gives 73 pages of regulatory changes that became effective on October 20, 2009. However, on October 20, 2009 an amendment (FAA Docket No. FAA-2006-26661 amendment) was issued that revised and clarified the intent and purpose of the first document. Even with the amendment there is industry confusion on the intent and application of the new rules.
The regulation outlines new requirements and does away with a potential of a 15 hour SOE that has been used in the past. Anyone with limited experience will now be given a 25 hour SOE on their certificate.
In addition to the above, the FAA has proposed to change 14 CFR Part 61.58 (FAA Docket No. 2008-0938; Notice 09-08) to require pilots flying the CE-501 and CE-551 aircraft to have 61.58 checks. At the present time pilots of these two Citation aircraft are only required to have a flight review (BFR) every 24 months in any aircraft. This currently means that a pilot could literally complete the flight review in a single engine propeller driven aircraft and still fly the CE-501 or CE-551 as a single pilot without any additional proficiency checks. The proposed ruling would require an annual check in a turbojet aircraft and a check in the “particular type of aircraft” every 24 months. The proposed ruling will be open for comments until November 30, 2009. The 61.58 change will not become effective until the FAA issues a “Final Notice” of rule making at some future date.
In the past to meet insurance requirements for operators of CE-501 and CE-551 aircraft, PrestoSIM 2 and 3 day Citation recurrent classes offered differences for both aircraft. If this regulation becomes effective as it is currently written, it will not affect or change any training in our courses since the “differences” are already fully FAA Approved in our curriculum.
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