Bombardier's Global 7500 received Transport Canada certification today. On hand for the milestone were (left to right): Stephen McCullough, vice president, integrated product development team, Global 7500 and Global 8000; David Turnbull, director, National Aircraft Certification, Transport Canada; Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport; David Coleal, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft; Michel Ouellette, senior vice president, Global 7500 and Global 8000 program; François Caza, vice president, product development and chief engineer, product development engineering, aerospace, Bombardier Inc; and Alain Bellemare, president and CEO, Bombardier Inc. (Photo: Bombardier)

Bombardier on Friday celebrated the much-anticipated receipt of Transport Canada type certification of its 7,700-nm, four-zone, flagship 7500. Transport Canada awarded the certification during a ceremony held at Bombardier’s Global Completion Center in Montreal. U.S. FAA and EASA certification are anticipated shortly, with deliveries slated to begin before year-end.

“The certification of our clean-sheet Global 7500 business jet is a defining moment for Bombardier, for our employees, and for the industry, as we approach entry-into-service,” said Bombardier Business Aircraft president David Coleal. “Thanks to the rigor and innovation of our design and test program, the Global 7500 has succeeded in elevating every standard by which a business jet is measured: comfort, luxury, performance, and a smooth ride.”

"The certification of the Bombardier Global 7500 is a significant accomplishment that will create good quality jobs for Canadians and support the continued growth of the local and regional economies where these aircraft are built,” added Marc Garneau, Canada’s minister of transport.

Certification comes eight years after Bombardier took the wraps of its longest range and largest business jet to date. While the program incurred a two-year delay to accommodate a wing redesign, certification followed a two-year flight-test program that spanned five aircraft and accumulated more than 2,700 flight test hours.

The results of that program enabled the company to boost range by 300 nm, opening up city pairs such as New York to Hong Kong, and confirm a published takeoff distance of 5,800 feet.

“During the certification process the team successfully validated all customer and regulatory requirements to yield a highly integrated, state-of-the-art aircraft with the highest level of safety that meets or exceeds the needs of our clients,” said François Caza, Bombardier’s vice president, product development and chief engineer, product development engineering, aerospace.

Bombardier touts the “four true living spaces,” of the aircraft, with a cabin equipped with Ka-band, the nice Touch cabin management system, Bombardier Touch dial that brings OLED display technologies to business jets and the patented Nuage seat.

The model was originally called the Global 7000, but Bombardier this spring renamed it the 7500, a move the company said provides “clear visibility” into the growing Global family that also includes the recently introduced Global 5500 and 6500, along with the 5000 and 6000.