Business aviation is a complex environment with many moving parts; understanding all angles is paramount for an informed opinion. Global private jet company Monarch Air Group looks at some newsworthy events and issues currently facing the market and how the main actors can safely navigate the shifting winds.

Read also: The Practicality of Private Aviation For Business

The aircraft certification process

After a much-awaited outcome and two years of delay, in March of this year, Gulfstream Aerospace finally announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of the new ultra-long-range high-technology Gulfstream G700. The Savannah-based company had hoped that by the end of 2023, the FAA certification would have been achieved, and it was able to deliver 15 aircraft last year.

Gulfstream president Mark Burns announced the long-awaited certification at the unveiling of the two Qatar Executive G700, saying that delays had been caused by congressional directives in the US that call for more oversight during the approval process. Indeed, the FAA asked for more documentation, testing, and flight testing.

Helicopter manufacturer Bell was not immune to certification delays either. They had been developing their most significant and advanced commercial helicopter, the Bell 525. Similarly to the G700, the aircraft uses the latest technology. The Bell 525 is the first civil rotorcraft with complete fly-by-wire systems and was announced back in 2012. There was a setback in 2016 when a prototype crashed, but they set the target date tentatively for 2017.

Bell CEO Mitch Snyder said there was no set timeline for the Bell 525 and that it was a joint process with the FAA. Last year, they hoped for approval by the end of the year but stressed that this was in the FAA’s hands. The Dassault Falcon 6X was also subject to delays. After being announced in 2018, it finally received FAA certification in August 2023.

So why are manufacturers facing such long delays in the certification process? Certification is a moving target in unprecedented times. During the pandemic, remote working affected aircraft manufacturing, and some skilled workers opted for early retirement. Dassault pushed back production of the Falcon 10X to 2027, citing various issues, including supply chain problems, missing parts, and delays in certification.

Regulators at full capacity

The FAA was also affected by the pandemic. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) expressed concerns last year about the delays in certification and the turnover at the FAA. They noted that 40% of certified engineers had less than two years of experience, and training was hindered during the pandemic. The FAA has also come under heavy scrutiny worldwide, with the issues at Boeing: the MAX accidents, investigations into various incidents, fake parts, and whistleblowing claims.

Congress introduced the Aircraft Certification Safety and Accountability Act of 2020 in response to Boeing’s issues. Agencies working with aircraft manufacturers have to be more meticulous than ever before and ensure passenger safety, which has made aircraft certification much more complicated. With so many new directives and recommendations, how can the FAA manage the fast-evolving technology used today in a predictable time frame while maintaining the highest safety standards? 

It surely is a balancing act in unprecedented times. A change in the aircraft design process is optional, but regulators need to review it more robustly. Documentation needs to be strengthened and compliance substantiated. It is important for the manufacturer to know what the regulator expects, and the regulator should also be transparent about what they require. More experienced staff should be used to create the correct counterbalance within the aviation industry. Supply chain issues need to be addressed and acted upon.

Scheduled charters and job creation

Another issue in business aviation is addressing some charter operations that run scheduled services. In June, the FAA announced actions regarding the expansion of charter operators operating scheduled flights but under less rigorous safety regulations than a commercial operator. This ruling applies to charter operators regulated under FAA Part 135 safety rules and the US Department of Transportation Part 380 economic requirements. 

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) suggests that the new ruling has been introduced without data-based safety rationale. The FAA ruling can potentially affect those in small remote communities who rely on such services, which are a vital lifeline, with the NBAA asking to review the ruling and provide data explaining the need for this change.

Furthermore, business aviation also employs millions of people worldwide and has an ecosystem that contributes to the global economy, with the NBAA estimating that only in the US, it contributes $150 billion to the national economic output and employs more than 1.2 million people. 

Along the same lines, the EBAA reported a few years ago that roughly 400,000 jobs are either directly or indirectly dependent on the local business aviation industry, with France, Switzerland, Germany and the UK as the top players in the ecosystem, with almost €90 billion in output.

Overall, Monarch Air Group’s highlight sheds light on the many moving pieces facing the business aviation community today, some more relevant and pressing than others. Private jets are always in demand, especially the newest, most efficient, and technologically advanced models. Although certification is delayed, safety is always the top priority.