What Happened
Regulatory Change Affects Air Attack Aircraft Configuration
A recent FAA decision to end single pilot exemptions for certain Cessna Citation 500 series aircraft is expected to significantly impact their use as air attack platforms for wildfires. The decision creates a problem for aerial firefighting operators, as adding a second pilot could conflict with federal contract specifications and affect the traditional air attack configuration. The issue has arisen during the evaluation of proposals for a new Air Tactical Group Supervision aircraft contract, and operators may need to replace affected aircraft or develop a new configuration. The decision was first reported by aerialfiremag.com.