Back at headquarters in Savannah, Georgia, at least another 15 are sitting ready for customers as soon as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves the aircraft.

On Tuesday the FAA issued what it calls a Final Special Condition regarding the electric flight control system for the G700 and G800. The regulator said that the aircraft’s electronic flight control is a “novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes”.

It is absolutely nothing to worry about. It is just part of the fun of certification. 

This has attracted a lot of headlines, but it is absolutely nothing to worry about. It is just part of the fun of certification. It also demonstrates how airworthiness standards need updating. 

Pretty much every modern aircraft with fly-by-wire controls uses this Special Condition. Gulfstream has already delivered more than 800 aircraft (G650s, G500s and G600s) that used it. 

The FAA uses Special Conditions to establish a safety equivalent to legacy regulations. They then become part of the aircraft’s certification. The case with the G700/G800 shows how it is time for the regulations to be updated.

If you want more detail on the G700/G800 Special Condition, you can find it here. You can even make comments to the FAA about it if you feel strongly. The deadline for making these is March 29th, 2024. It is worth stressing that the aircraft can still be certified while the comment period is still open. 

Special Conditions are common with new aircraft certifications,” says David Hernandez, shareholder, Vedder Price and a former FAA employee. “The only problem is whether the FAA has the personnel and resources to evaluate it in a timely matter.”

In July 2023 Gulfstream had hoped to deliver 19 G700s before the end of the year. It is now targeting 50 for 2024.

The primary role of the FAA is safety. No one can criticise it for taking certification seriously. But this Special Condition shows that regulations desperately need updating. Gulfstream applied for G700 certification on December 31st, 2019 (by amending its GVI certificate).  

It is also a warning for anyone in advanced air mobility looking to use existing regulations. Gulfstream has been getting aircraft certificated since 1959. 

G700 Certification is getting closer, but owners want things to happen faster. That is why they ordered an aircraft that can fly at Mach 0.935.

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Last week the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued type certificates for Dassault’s Falcon 6X. Customer deliveries will start soon.

Certification has become a lot harder since Dassault announced the aircraft in 2017. Regulators are more stringent and OEMs are finding the process more difficult to forecast than before. (The fact that experienced aircraft designers and manufacturers are finding certification taking longer should be a real warning sign for new aircraft entrants like eVTOL companies and their investors.)

The Falcon 6X certifications follow more than two years of testing including 1,500 hours of flying.

“We would like to recognise the EASA and FAA certification teams for their commitment in this demanding process and our customers for their confidence. The Falcon 6X is the first brand new business jet to comply with the latest regulations, which will enhance the safety and security of all new aircraft,” said Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO, Dassault Aviation.

Gulfstream has been through a similar flight test and certification programme with the G700. The G700 is set to complete its FAA Type Inspection Authorization in September and get full certification soon after.

With its 5,500nm/10,200km range the Falcon 6X can fly from London to Hong Kong for dim sum or Los Angeles to Geneva for fondue. While sitting in a big 78inch/1.98m height and 102in/2.58m width cabin. “I really like the Falcon 6X; especially the cabin space and design,” says Alan Nee, founder of broker Premier Aviation and a Falcon pilot. “The quoted fuel efficiency numbers are also very strong.” The aircraft is very quiet and has low cabin pressure. It also has a cool skylight above the kitchen.

New aircraft typically see a boost in sales when they are first ordered and then when the first deliveries are made. The Falcon 6X is entering service into a much stronger market than when it was announced in 2017.

“Now that it is certificated with deliveries starting soon, we expect to see a lot more interest in the Falcon 6X,” says Lee Rohde, president and CEO, Essex Aviation.

Dassault customers are extremely loyal and you can expect a number of Falcon 900 customers to upgrade to the 6X. “I hope they produce more to penetrate the broader market,” says Nee.

Dassault engineers celebrated the Falcon 6X achievements last weekend, but on Monday they were back working on the Falcon 10X.

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