Gulfstream’s G700 luxury business jet has been granted type certification in the US by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after what the president of the General Dynamics-owned company said was an unusually rigorous testing schedule. 

The certification was expected in Q4 2023, and Gulfstream had to delay 19 deliveries because of the delay. 

The FAA has several high profile ongoing investigations, including its Boeing inspections which have produced eye-opening revelations, which may have impacted the timescale of the G700 process. 

“We have successfully completed the most rigorous certification program in company history with the G700,” said Mark Burns, president of Gulfstream. “I’d like to thank our world-class team of flight test, certification and engineering professionals, along with the many others at Gulfstream who have contributed to this accomplishment.”

Along with its primary function, allowing Gulfstream to commercially fly its new product, the certification made updates to the new jet official. 

“The G700 brings a new level of performance and cabin comfort to business aviation and is doing so while meeting the highest certification standards our industry has ever seen,” Burns said. 

The aircraft’s range increased to 7,750 nautical miles (14,353km) at Mach 0.85 or 6,650 nm (12,316km) at Mach 0.90, gaining 250 nm (463km) at both speeds over original projections. The G700’s maximum operating speed increased from Mach 0.925 to Mach 0.935, which the company said made it the fastest in Gulfstream’s fleet.

The aircraft manufacturer said the large business jet also improved its cabin altitude, dropping to 866 metres while flying at 12,497 metres. Gulfstream described “whisper-quiet noise levels” for customers and their clients in the cabin, along with “panoramic oval windows” and “never recirculated air”. 

“On behalf of Gulfstream’s more than 20,000 employees worldwide, I am proud and excited to begin our G700 customer deliveries,” Burns finished.