On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted General Dynamics Corp’s Gulfstream G700 business aircraft certification. This marks a significant milestone for Gulfstream and brings fresh competition to the luxury jet market. Initially, Gulfstream had anticipated obtaining certification for this large-cabin jet in late 2023 and planned to deliver 19 of the aircraft.
The certification process for new aircraft in the United States has faced increased scrutiny following the tragic crashes of two Boeing 737 MAX flights in 2018 and 2019. The industry expects continued scrutiny after an incident involving an Alaska Airlines MAX 9 in January. Gulfstream President Mark Burns had anticipated that the FAA may request additional information during the G700 certification due to previous crashes but did not expect any unreasonable demands.
Gulfstream reported that the G700 will have shorter takeoff and landing distances than originally anticipated. Despite this, the company successfully completed a rigorous certification program with the G700, marking its most extensive effort to date. In September, Gulfstream announced performance improvements, including an enhanced range of 7,750 nautical miles and the title of the fastest Gulfstream jet.
While there is sustained customer interest in private planes following a surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, slowing global growth in 2024 and the availability of pre-owned aircraft could impact demand. Meanwhile, Boeing continues to await certification for its Boeing 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 models after withdrawing a safety exemption request in January that could have expedited approval for these models.
