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Gulfstream Aerospace celebrated the certification of its G700 flagship aircraft on March 30, after an extended approval process that lasted two years longer than expected. The company had initially announced the G700 in 2019 with a target certification year of 2022. However, delays arose due to additional requirements imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Gulfstream President Mark Burns stated, "We have successfully completed the most rigorous certification program in company history with the G700."
Burns attributed part of the delay to increased oversight mandated by U.S. congressional directives. He noted that while more documentation and testing were required, this led to "an extremely mature aircraft." The G700 has since received validation from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Qatar General Civil Aviation Authority, allowing deliveries to Qatar Executive.
Meanwhile, Bell's 525 helicopter project faced similar challenges. Announced in 2012, Bell initially aimed for a 2017 certification but later stopped setting timelines due to joint processes with the FAA. Dassault's Falcon 6X also experienced slight delays but achieved EASA and FAA certifications in August 2023.
