Transport Canada issued certifications for both the Gulfstream G500 and G600, following through on long-awaited validations that in part prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to weigh in on the issue. Those validations came through on February 15, and Gulfstream Aerospace told AIN, “We continue to work with both the FAA and TCCA and are optimistic that progress is being made.”

On January 29, Trump threatened to revoke certifications for all Canadian aircraft, including Bombardier Globals, in retaliation for delays in Transport Canada approvals for the Gulfstream G500, G600, G700, and G800. He also threatened 50% tariffs on any aircraft produced in Canada and sold in the U.S.

Gulfstream confirmed that the G500 and G600 applications had been pending for about six years, and the G700 and G800 applications were submitted in 2024.

When asked on February 12 about the Trump threat to “decertify” Bombardier products, Bombardier president and CEO Éric Martel had expressed optimism that the “situation is going to get resolved,” and added that this was a certification issue between Gulfstream, Transport Canada, and the FAA. “They need to work together to get this to the bottom line.”

During the GAMA State of the Industry press conference last week, association president and CEO James Viola added that sometimes certifying authorities get out of alignment and need to recalibrate.

Britain’s Metropolitan Police is expanding the scope of investigations into the use of UK airports and Royal Air Force bases by aircraft connected to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Its officers are liaising with colleagues in multiple local county police forces seeking to probe how private jets may have been used to carry young women to and from visits to Epstein and associates that may have involved breaches of human trafficking laws.

The investigations involve flights through London-area airports, including Stansted (EGSS), Luton (EGGW), Birmingham (EGBB), and Biggin Hill (EGKB), as well as the RAF’s Northolt and Marham bases. The work is part of a wider probe coordinated by the UK’s National Police Chiefs Council into Epstein’s dealings with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—the former Prince Andrew who was arrested last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

UK police officers were alerted to details of the flights from evidence released by the U.S. Department of Justice. While confirming the ongoing investigation, the Metropolitan Police has not specified which organizations and individuals it is interviewing at the various airports. Last week, Stansted Airport issued a statement indicating that it does not take direct responsibility for the flights in question and suggested that the investigation's focus should be on FBOs.

NBAA and NATA are appealing to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to authorize reimbursements for any new equipment requirements for Part 91 and 135 operators that come in tandem with expanded use of the upper C-band for wireless services.

The associations made that appeal in joint comments on an FCC proposal to auction up to 180 MHz of spectrum in the 3.98 to 4.2 GHz range (the upper C-band) for next-gen wireless services. That proposal has come at the direction of Congress that the FCC repurpose at least 100 MHz of the upper C-band with an auction in 2027. These plans would materially alter the adjacent-band radio frequency environment for aviators, the associations noted, explaining that aircraft radio altimeters are “essential to the safe operations of thousands of aircraft in the National Airspace System.”

As a result, the FAA has issued a companion notice that would implement new interference-tolerant performance standards for radio altimeters that would safeguard such system operating in the adjacent band. “The necessity and timing of this fleetwide upgrade are directly tied to the commission’s spectrum repurposing decision,” the associations pointed out.

Further, the associations added, the costs of replacement or modification of radio altimeters impose significant capital, certification, and operational burdens. The FCC has an emerging technologies framework that would reimburse entities that must modify equipment due to commission-initiated spectrum use changes, they noted.

Industry leaders are encouraged by the momentum to improve the certification process at the FAA, but continue to press for what they believe are long-needed changes. They also see a need to rebalance international validation efforts—an issue they believe was highlighted by the recent White House statement that it would pull the certifications from Bombardier if Canada did not move on long-pending Gulfstream approvals.

Speaking during GAMA’s annual State of the Industry press conference on Wednesday, president and CEO James Viola pointed to a congressionally-mandated Mitre study that identified paths to improve the certification process. “We are pleased that the FAA is reviewing these ideas as well as looking into how to introduce safety improvements and correct actions in the certification process and evaluating best practices and tools utilized by other authorities,” Viola reported.

He also pointed to bills jointly introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate targeting refinements, as well as a reorganization at the FAA. However, Viola added, “the challenges are still there…the pain level is still there. We continue to try to work through it.”

When asked about the recent White House threats surrounding the pending Gulfstream validations, Viola responded, "Occasionally, if [validations are] not being tracked properly, things get out of balance, and it was an opportunity, I think, to rebalance some of the things that are going on."

A significant advancement in aviation safety is arriving — and West Star Aviation is leading the way.

The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) celebrated the completion of a major redevelopment at the dedicated general aviation West Woodward Airport (KWWR) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week.

Priced at more than $12 million, the project included a new 5,000-sq-ft terminal offering a passenger lounge, pilot lounge, meeting rooms, and office space. The complex also features a new 17,700-sq-ft box hangar capable of sheltering the latest ultra-long-range business jets. That brings KWWR up to 38,000 sq ft of aircraft storage space.

As well, 25,000 sq ft of ramp space was added to the airport’s existing 400,000 sq ft, and a new taxilane was built to connect the existing parallel taxiway to the new corporate hangar to allow for future development in the area south of the terminal.

With its roughly 5,500-foot main runway, KWWR was established in 1943 as Woodward Army Airfield, and today serves as a general aviation gateway to the western part of the state.

“Oklahoma’s aerospace industry is a vital economic engine for our state,” said ODAA executive director Grayson Ardies. “The completion of these pro-growth projects at West Woodward ensures that Western Oklahoma remains competitive and capable of supporting the evolving needs of both corporate and general aviation.”

Tru Simulation + Training’s full-flight simulator for the Cessna Citation Ascend received FAA level-D qualification, the Textron affiliate announced. The sim, which is expected to receive EASA qualification this year, is now in operation at Tru's Tampa, Florida training center. The midsize Ascend obtained FAA approval in late 2025.

The simulator incorporates Tru’s REALCue motion system and an electric platform that provides six degrees of freedom through 60-inch stroke actuators. Diagnostic and manual control functions are included in the motion interface. Visuals are generated by high-definition projectors covering 200 by 40 degrees.

Instructors work from a station equipped with two touchscreen displays and a wireless remote control unit. This station also handles qualification test guide procedures and troubleshooting tasks.

“Pilots deserve training capabilities that reflect the advanced technology and performance that the Citation Ascend brings to the midsize jet category,” said Jerry Messaris, Tru Simulation v-p and general manager. “Achieving FAA qualification ensures pilots can train in the most realistic environment available, building confidence and precision for every mission.”

Bombardier’s upcoming test pilots will train at International Test Pilots School (ITPS) Canada, becoming the second OEM’s flight-test professionals to make the most of the provider’s Hybrid Industry Training Solutions (HITS) program. Billed by ITPS Canada as a “flexible hybrid format,” the program kicked off in March with launch customer Honeywell Aerospace, aiming to offer a versatile and cost-effective solution. Bombardier’s first students are already enrolled in the course that typically takes around 18 to 24 months to complete.

ITPS is already seeing “measurable impact” from the program’s flexibility, designed to support OEMs in sponsoring employees to become professional flight-test pilots and engineers. “The organizations don’t want to lose them, in some cases for up to an entire year, to do this highly technical training,” ITPS Canada CEO Dave Lohse told AIN.

Instead, a combination of “synchronous and asynchronous online learning modules, run by the same instructors that teach [ITPS’] full-time professional courses,” will allow students to ramp up or down their weekly contribution. This is augmented by two in-person fortnight-long modules conducted in London, Ontario, where competency-based skills sessions consolidate online learning.

Students will then undertake a final project at their home facility. “The managers of the flight-test organizations curate and tailor that final project to be closely aligned with what they’re likely going to do once they finish the course,” Lohse said.

The FAA has approved a supplemental type certificate for installation of Garmin’s GHA 15 height advisor in a variety of Class I and II aircraft. The height advisor was previously available only for experimental aircraft.

Priced at $2,695, the GHA 15 is not lidar-based like similar devices that give pilots advisory messages about height above ground but uses radio waves. By processing hundreds of measurements per second, the GHA 15 uses digital filters to maintain continuous readings, according to Garmin, “even over water or in challenging terrain environments.”

Above-ground measurements are displayed up to 500 feet on the GI 275 electronic flight instrument and G3X Touch primary flight displays. While descending, the GI 275 provides audible altitude callouts down to 1 foot agl to aid pilots in knowing the exact height during landing. The audible advisories work with any standard audio panel. This “can be helpful to pilots during landings and flying in areas where limited barometric altimeter setting information is available—such as backcountry flying,” Garmin said.

Weighing less than a pound, the GHA 15 is enclosed in a single module and designed to be mounted to the bottom of the aircraft.

In Friday's Photo of the Week, we incorrectly stated photographer Adam Sefton's title. He is a maintenance manager. We apologize for the error.