More To Come? Canada Certifies Two Gulfstream Jets

Canada Has Certified G500 And G600 But Others Still Pending Certification

Transport Canada issued certificates approving the operation of Gulfstream G500 and G600 models in Canadian airspace.

Two newer models, the G700 and G800, are still awaiting approval. Canadian authorities are still in discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over next steps. The type certification to Gulfstream’s G500 and G600 models happened on Feb. 15, according to a document from Transport Canada’s National Aeronautical Product Approval database.

This may be a partial resolution of the trade tension between the United States and Canada. President Donald Trump threatened last month to ground Bombardier Canadian aircraft sold in the U.S. unless Canada certified recent Gulfstream models. Bombardier and Gulfstream are heavy competitors in the medium and large business jet market. Trump also targeted the Canadian company during his first term, slapping a near 300 percent tariff on Bombardier’s C Series. That model, now known as the A220, was later sold to Airbus.

Under international aviation rules, the country where an aircraft is designed is responsible for primary type certification. In the case of Gulfstream jets, that authority rests with the FAA, which validates the aircraft’s design and compliance with safety standards. Other national regulators, including Transport Canada, typically validate the original certification but retain the authority to request additional information or decline approval.

FMI: www.tc.canada.ca