Canadian Gulfstream Certifications Still Pending

Transport Canada remains noncommittal on the progress of certification progress on four models of Gulfstream aircraft despite the FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford’s apparent optimism that an agreement is imminent. “Transport Canada continues to work with Gulfstream and the FAA on the certification of their aircraft,” was all the agency had to say in response to our query about comments made by Bedford on Tuesday that suggested the impasse would soon be over. “I think we’ve resolved the issues with Canada,” Bedford said. “My understanding is that Transport Canada will announce the Gulfstream certifications that have been delayed for years.”

There are apparently several new and novel design details in the G500, 600, 700, and 800s that Transport Canada flagged in its review of the FAA’s certification (and in the case of the 700 and 800, provisional certification) of the latest generation Gulfstreams. The 700 and 800 are flying on a three-year exemption on full certification of their fuel anti-icing systems, and there are reportedly concerns about the fly-by-wire control input feedback all four models that Transport Canada wanted more information on. The earlier models have been waiting for Canadian certification for more than five years and the 700 and 800s about a year. It’s not clear how the yearslong logjam could be cleared in two weeks since President Donald Trump thrust the issue into the political limelight.

In late January, Trump threatened to “decertify” any new Canadian-built aircraft being sold to U.S. customers and to put 50% import tariffs on them. Although the threats raised questions about their legal basis, they nevertheless prompted dialogue between both regulators. What has happened since hasn’t been publicly discussed, but according to Bedford the certification announcement was expected by Feb. 13. Canadian-based Bombardier has been caught in the middle of the controversy. Its flagship Global 8000 was certified by both Transport Canada and the FAA in late 2025, and Bombardier has many deliveries of it and its other models planned for the U.S. “I think that situation is going to get resolved, and we’re going to be back to normal business between now and then,” Bombardier President Éric Martel told reporters on an earnings call earlier this week. In 2025, Bombardier delivered 157 aircraft and the U.S. remains its biggest market.