Single-pilot bizjets

For years, researchers and engineers have worked to automate aviation. According to their vision, sophisticated hardware and software would gradually take over the pilot’s workload, easing the stress of long flights, bad weather, complicated approaches, and other potentially high-pressure, error-prone situations.

Air taxis may soon make this notion real, but only in their unique segment. Fully automated airspace seems unlikely to arrive before most of today’s professional pilots are ready for retirement.

In June 2025, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced that it was giving up research into single-pilot flight. The technology isn’t there yet to make solo operations as safe as having 2 qualified airmen up front. Nonetheless, a few bizjets are certified for single-pilot operation.

Most are very light jets (VLJs) designed to keep owner-operators and a few passengers safe in the air. A few qualify as light jets, and even a couple of midsize aircraft are certified to fly with a passenger in the right seat.

A word about single-pilot reality

A well-trained current pilot who has flown a turboprop will soon feel at home in a VLJ. With larger models, such as the Phenom 300E and Citation CJ series, IFR workloads increase sharply. Higher cruise speeds, perhaps more demanding terminal environments, and longer weather legs, all push a solo pilot closer to the edge of capacity.

Insurance underwriters and corporate flight departments often require 2 pilots on these aircraft, regardless of what the type certificate allows. The practical upper boundary of single-pilot operations is set less by certification than by whether operators decide a second crew member is the most cost-effective safety measure they can buy.

What follows is a look at the single-pilot jets commonly available today. We usually limit our attention to aircraft currently in production. However, in this segment, older models with time on them play an outsize role. We are including some earlier models in this census.

Very light jets

VLJs are where most owner-operators begin their jet careers. Short-field performance, low hourly costs, and cockpits built for single-pilot workloads make them a natural step up from turboprops.

Cessna Citation Mustang. The littlest Cessna bizjet offers room for 2 pilots, club seating for 4 pax, and a small lavatory. It offers a max cruise speed of about 340 kts near its ceiling at FL410, economy cruise around 320 kts, and an advertised range of 1150 nm.

Plan for 700 nm or so with 4 pax and reserves. Takeoff run is 3110 ft, although hot-and-high conditions require careful planning. Landing is typically under 2400 ft. Full authority digital engine control (FADEC) helps minimize pilot workload.

The Mustang came with the Garmin G1000 suite with GFC 700 3-axis autopilot. Many have been upgraded to the G1000 NXi suite. Either version will be familiar to pilots with turboprop experience. Big jet features include automatic de-icing boots and anti-skid braking. Between 2006 and 2017, Cessna delivered 479 Citation Mustangs.

Cirrus Vision SF50 G3/G2. All models of Vision Jet have the characteristic V-tail and dorsally-mounted Williams FJ33-5A turbofan. Both the G2 and G3 cruise at 311 kts, with a ceiling at FL310 and a range of 1275 nm.

Takeoff distance is 1910 ft. Both are designed for 1 pilot and 7 passengers, but with a slight difference – the G2 carries a pilot and 5 adults with room for 2 children in a 7th seat, while the G3 seats 6 adult pax and 1 child. Takeoff roll is a sprightly 2036 ft.

Avionics in both are Garmin G3000-based Perspective Touch+ suite, with autothrottle. The G3 adds Garmin’s Safe Return autoland system. For most irrecoverable emergencies, both models carry a whole-aircraft parachute deployable by the pilot or a passenger.

The Vision Jet line has been remarkably successful, with more than 700 units reaching customers since 2016. Cirrus delivered 106 in 2025.

Embraer Phenom 100EX. Embraer’s smallest business jet has standard seating for 1 pilot and 4 passengers, and room for up to 7 pax is available. Max cruise speed is 407 kts, range at 339 kts is 1178 nm, and service ceiling is 41,000 ft..

Takeoff distance of 3195 ft can stretch to about 5600 ft in hot/high conditions. Landing distance is 2430 ft. Amenities include a rear enclosed lavatory, a rigid airstair door, and up to 72 cu ft of baggage space. Cabin altitude is 8000 ft.

The Phenom 100 entered service in 2008. Since then, several upgrades have added multifunction spoilers, the Prodigy Touch flight deck based on the Garmin G3000, some cabin improvements, and, most recently, Garmin’s Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting System. So far, the line has racked up more than 400 deliveries.

HondaJet Elite II. This 7/8-pax business jet was introduced in 2022. It has a max cruise of 422 kts at FL300. Its service ceiling of FL430 is highest in the class. Range with 4 passengers is 1547 nm.

Takeoff distance is 3699 ft at sea level – international standard atmosphere (ISA). Landing distance is 2717 ft. Expect a fuel burn around 120 gph. Honda claims that it uses 20% less fuel than it would without the aircraft’s unique over-the-wing engine mounts.

The Elite II comes with the Garmin G3000 avionics suite with autothrottles, approach stabilization, and emergency autoland. Anti-ice, lighting, pressurization, and ground spoilers are all automated. The advanced steering augmentation system assists nosewheel steering and yaw control for better stability and tracking on the ground.

Light jets

Light jets offer more cabin volume and longer range without transcontinental fuel requirements. While 2 of the 4 aircraft below are out of production, they remain well-represented on the ramp.

Beechcraft Premier IA. This older model, usually configured as 1 pilot plus 6 passengers, is one of the fastest light jets available, offering a max cruise of 454 kts. It also offers a cabin height of 5 ft 5 in over a flat floor.

Yet, there are trade-offs. The Premier IA’s NBAA range is 1350 nm at FL330, burning about 160 gph. Takeoff distance is 3792 ft at sea level with standard conditions, with landing taking up to 3170 ft. Production of the Premier IA ended in 2013.

Cessna Citation M2 Gen3/Gen2. The M2 is Cessna’s entry-level Citation. Think of it as the successor to the Citation Mustang, but a bit bigger and faster. It has club seating for 4 pax – 5 with a side-facing sofa.

Add the copilot’s seat and a belted lavatory for 1 pilot plus 7 pax. Performance also is a step up, with max cruise of 404 kts and max range of 1550 nm – although a typical mission with 4 pax is approximately 1000 nm. Takeoff field length is 3210 ft, with 2590 ft needed for landing. Service ceiling is 41,000 ft. Typical fuel burn is 120 to 130 gph.

The Gen3, due in 2027, will debut the G3000 Prime avionics suite and Garmin emergency autoland as standard equipment. Textron expects to offer retrofit autoland kits for Gen2 aircraft already equipped with autothrottles.

Cessna Citation CJ3+/CJ3 Gen3. The 7-pax Citation CJ3+ is Cessna’s next step up. Max cruise is 416 kts. NBAA IFR range with 4 pax is about 1800 nm. The plane’s straight wing optimizes performance from short runways and high-altitude airports. It needs 3180 ft for takeoff and 2770 ft for landing. Service ceiling is 45,000 ft.

The Gen3 update is due in 2027, and offers the same airframe and performance as its predecessor.

It carries the Garmin G3000 avionics introduced in the CJ3+, adding emergency autoland and autothrottles (formerly optional) as standard equipment.

It also offers additional 4.5 in cockpit legroom, a redesigned interior, and Internet connectivity. Retrofit autoland kits will be available for Gen2 aircraft with autothrottles.

Embraer Phenom 300E. With room for 7 passengers, the Phenom 300E is the largest, fastest light jet currently certified for single-pilot flight. Typical configurations carry 4 pax in club seating with 2 forward-facing seats behind them. Options can take the aircraft to 1-pilot, 9-pax seats.

The 300E is the current variant. It combines a 464-kt max cruise at FL330, but typical cruise speed is 453 kts; roughly 2000 nm NBAA IFR range; and runway distances of 3209 ft for takeoff and 2212 ft for landing with 4 pax at sea level – ISA. Service ceiling is 45,000 ft.

Flight deck is the Garmin G3000 Prodigy Touch. Integrated FMS, synthetic vision, traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) display, terrain and obstacle awareness, and the usual weather and airport features. The Phenom 300 series has been the most-delivered light jet globally for more than a decade, with more than 800 examples built since 2009.

Midsize jets

The following aircraft push single-pilot certification into territory that traditionally requires 2 crew members. In practice, most are likely to be flown with 2 in the office.

Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3/Gen2. The CJ4 Gen2 is the largest of Cessna’s single-pilot jets. It’s generally configured for 1 pilot and 9 pax, with 2 sets of club seats. It can fit up to 11 pax in a pinch.

Performance also bests the CJ3 series. The CJ4 Gen2’s max cruise is 451 kts. For real-world missions, plan for 430 to 440 kts.  Range is 2165 nm max, 1900 to 2000 nm at NBAA standard conditions. Takeoff distance is 3410 ft, with 2940 ft needed for landing. Service ceiling is 45,000 ft.

The CJ4 Gen3 is expected to enter the market next year. It will bring the Garmin G3000 Prime suite, factory winglets, lithium-ion batteries, and emergency autoland with some new cabin options.

Pilatus PC-24. Unique in almost any list, the PC-24 is the only single-pilot bizjet that can operate from 3000-ft runways covered in grass, gravel, or snow. Although the EASA type certificate allows up to 10 pax in commuter configuration, most PC-24s are set up for 6 to 8 pax. Its cargo door can fit a standard pallet.

Flying 1 pilot plus 6 pax, the PC-24 offers an NBAA IFR range of 2040 nm. High-speed cruise is 440 kts, with normal cruise only 10 kts slower. On pavement, the PC-24’s take off distance to clear a 50 ft obstacle is 3090 ft. Service ceiling is 45,000 ft.

The Pilatus Advanced Cockpit Environment (ACE) flight deck, built on the Honeywell Primus Epic 2 platform, was designed specifically for single-pilot IFR. It includes autothrottles, dual FMS, and an inertial reference system unusual in this class.