The short answer

25 hours as PIC in the CE-500 series (any mix of 500/501/550/551/560 airframes — one rating covers them all) under the direct observation of a PIC holding the CE-500 without limitations (14 CFR 61.64(g)), each flight attested in writing → administrative removal, no checkride.

The CE-500 SOE, in plain English

The CE-500 type rating covers Cessna's straight-wing Citation family: the original 500 and 501 (Citation I/I-SP), the 550/551 (Citation II/II-SP and Bravo), and the 560 (Citation V, Ultra, Encore). One rating, two decades of airframes — which is exactly why these are the most affordable jets on the used market and why so many first-time jet owners end up holding a CE-500.

Type rides run in the simulator, and under 14 CFR 61.64(f)(2) a first jet type almost always prints with the SOE limitation — most buyers stepping up from a 414 or a King Air don't hold the prior unrestricted turbojet type or the turbojet hours that §61.64(b) would need to skip it. Until removal, you act as PIC only under the direct observation of a pilot holding the CE-500 without limitations.

The good news: mixed-model time all counts

Because the whole straight-wing family shares the rating, your 25 supervised hours can be flown across any mix of 500-series airframes — ten hours in a Bravo, fifteen in an Ultra, all one bucket. That's a real advantage in this fleet, where owners frequently fly more than one airframe through partnerships and charter arrangements.

Contract captains and old-school logbooks

Most CE-500 SOE gets flown with a contract captain or a partner in the airplane — this fleet is Part 91 country. That works fine under the reg, with two checks worth doing before hour one:

And the paperwork: this fleet runs on paper logbooks, and we see more attestation problems in CE-500 books than anywhere else — entries signed but not worded as attestations, missing certificate numbers, or one blanket signoff covering 25 hours when §61.64(g)(2) requires the observing PIC to attest to each flight. Use the sample attestation wording (PDF), and send us the logbook before the appointment — the document review is free and catches all of this in advance.

What removal requires

How the appointment runs

  1. Identity verification (valid, unexpired photo ID)
  2. Certificate + logbook review — 25 SOE hours and attestations verified against §61.64(g)
  3. IACRA application signed live
  4. Temporary certificate without the limitation issued on the call

About 20 minutes, from anywhere with a stable connection — FBO, hangar office, layover hotel. 24-hour advance notice required for FAA DMS oversight entry.

Pricing — $200 flat

No travel fees, no rescheduling fees, no charge if you're determined not eligible during the appointment. Details → Pricing

Related

Type Rating SOE Removal (all types)

The hub page — how §61.64(g) SOE removal works for any type rating.

CE-525S (Citation CJ) SOE Removal

The single-pilot CJ series — different rating, same process.

CE-510S (Mustang) SOE Removal

Citation Mustang single-pilot SOE removal.

25 hours across the 500 series? You're one video call from unrestricted.

Submit the contact form and you'll get a document checklist within 24 hours. $200 flat.

Schedule your CE-500 SOE removal →

Frequently asked

Which Citations does the CE-500 type rating cover?
The straight-wing family: Citation 500 and 501 (Citation I/I-SP), 550 and 551 (Citation II/II-SP, Bravo), and 560 (Citation V, Ultra, Encore). One CE-500 rating covers them all — which also means supervised time in any mix of those airframes counts toward the same 25-hour SOE requirement.
Do my SOE hours have to be in one model?
No. Any combination of CE-500-series airframes works — the rating is what matters, not the specific model. Hours in a CJ (CE-525 series) or Mustang (CE-510) do not count; those are different type ratings.
Can a contract captain supervise my SOE?
Yes, if they hold the CE-500 type rating without limitations and you're performing the duties of PIC on each flight while they observe. Verify their rating is unrestricted before you start — a supervising pilot who carries their own SOE limitation doesn't qualify under §61.64(g)(1).
Does SIC time in the Citation count toward the 25 hours?
No. §61.64(g)(3) requires the time be obtained while performing the duties of pilot in command under the observation of the qualifying PIC. Riding as SIC while someone else acts as PIC doesn't accumulate SOE.
My logbook is paper and the attestations are informal. Is that a problem?
Paper is fine — wording is what matters. Each SOE flight needs the observing PIC's written attestation: that they observed the flight, that you performed PIC duties, plus signature and certificate number. A single blanket signoff over 25 hours doesn't meet §61.64(g)(2). Send photos of the pages with your intake documents and we'll verify everything before the appointment, free.
What does it cost and how long does it take?
$200 flat — no travel fees, no charge if you're found not eligible during the appointment. About 20 minutes on the call; typical turnaround from inquiry to unrestricted temporary certificate is 3-5 business days.