Freestream Aircraft

Wednesday, 2 September 2026

FAA finalises Gulfstream 200 fatigue directive effective 18 September

The FAA has finalised a new Gulfstream 200 airworthiness directive. AD 2026-16-09 takes effect on 18 September 2026. The rule applies to every Gulfstream 200 and Galaxy on the US register, without exception. The FAA counts 163 affected aircraft.

The directive was published in the Federal Register on 14 August 2026. It requires owners to revise the existing maintenance or inspection programme to add new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The change addresses fatigue damage in principal structural elements. Left unaddressed, the fatigue could reduce the aircraft's structural integrity.

The FAA sourced the underlying limitations from Israel's Civil Aviation Authority. CAAI issued its ISR AD I-05-2025-09-1 on 1 September 2025. Israel Aerospace Industries built the Galaxy in Tel Aviv from 1997. Gulfstream took the type over and produced the renamed G200 through 2011. About 250 airframes were delivered.

Compliance is due within 90 days of the effective date, or at the next applicable maintenance interval, whichever comes later. The FAA received no substantive comments during the proposal phase. It priced compliance at 90 work-hours per operator at USD 85 an hour, or USD 7,650 per fleet-wide revision. The 163-strong US fleet accounts for close to two-thirds of the 250 Galaxy and G200 airframes built.

No parts are mandated, and the AD does not add a one-off inspection. Owners should expect their maintenance provider to draft a service-programme amendment and route it for FAA approval. Aircraft that hit a scheduled inspection after 18 September 2026 without the revised limitations in place will fall out of compliance.

Source: FAA Federal Register final rule, AD 2026-16-09, Vol. 91 No. 156, 14 August 2026; FAA Dynamic Regulatory System.


Also today

Bombardier absorbs MHICA aerostructures to secure Global and Challenger supply

Bombardier will acquire MHI Canada Aerospace's Mississauga plant and its roughly 750 staff. The deal, announced on 1 September 2026, brings aerostructures for the Global 5500, Global 6500 and Challenger 3500 in-house. Terms remain confidential. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close later this year, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries providing transitional support. Bombardier casts the move as a supply-chain resilience play against sustained customer demand. For owners on the delivery slate, the change removes a third-party dependency from two current production lines.

Source: Bombardier press release, 1 September 2026; Aviation International News, 1 September 2026.

Universal Aviation begins operations at Dammam private aviation terminal

Universal Aviation has begun operations at King Fahd International Airport's new general aviation terminal. Aviation International News reported the start on 1 September 2026. The Dammam facility (OEDF) covers 42,000 sq ft, with a 28,000 sq ft dedicated hangar, on-site customs and immigration, and full ground handling. It is the first of three planned Universal locations in the Kingdom. A private aviation hangar at Jeddah (OEJN) and a Universal lounge at Riyadh (OERK) are due to follow later in 2026, per the operator's February 2026 press release.

Source: Aviation International News, 1 September 2026; Universal Aviation press release, 24 February 2026.