Friday, 11 September 2026
UK CAA clears Bombardier Global 8000 for London City Airport
UK regulators cleared the Bombardier Global 8000 for London City. The approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority took effect on 10 September 2026, per Bombardier's statement via GlobeNewswire.
London City sits in Docklands, closer to central London than any other airport serving the capital. Its short runway and 5.5-degree noise-abatement approach exclude most large-cabin jets. Aircraft cleared for the field must carry a certified steep-approach supplement and their crews must fly recurrent training on the profile.
The approval opens nonstop city-centre arrivals from destinations such as Singapore, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Buenos Aires. Bombardier said the London City routing saves owners 60 to 90 minutes of ground transfer versus Farnborough or Luton. The Global 8000 is quoted at 8,000 nautical miles of range at Mach 0.85 long-range cruise and a top speed of Mach 0.95.
Not every airframe of the type gains London City access with the nod. The clearance only extends to Global 8000s registered in jurisdictions whose own aviation authority has approved the type's steep-approach supplement. Operators on registers that have not yet validated the supplement must wait for their own regulator before the procedure becomes available.
The Global 8000 entered service in December 2025 with its first customer delivery in Mississauga, Ontario. Transport Canada certificated the type that month, with FAA and EASA validation following in early 2026. Comlux added a second airframe to its managed fleet on 1 September 2026, and Vista has begun upgrading its Global 7500 fleet to Global 8000 configuration through the year.
Source: Bombardier press release via GlobeNewswire, 10 September 2026; Aviation International News, 10 September 2026.
Also today
FAA proposes AD on sliding cabin seats across Falcon 7X, 900 and 2000
The FAA has published a proposed AD on sliding cabin seats in Falcon jets. Federal Register document 2026-18520, dated 10 September 2026, opens comments under docket FAA-2026-8801 through 26 October. The rule covers Dassault Falcon 7X, Mystère-Falcon 900, Falcon 900EX, Falcon 2000 and Falcon 2000EX aircraft. The unsafe condition is a cabin seat that slides during taxi, take-off and landing when its track locking mechanism jams. The FAA proposes adopting EASA AD 2025-0200 and requires modification or replacement of each affected seat. 22 US-registered airplanes are in scope; per-operator cost is up to $9,602 per seat and $945,797 across the fleet.
Source: Federal Register document 2026-18520, 10 September 2026; EASA AD 2025-0200.
Flexjet opens $34m Farnborough terminal, its first in Europe
Flexjet opened its first European private terminal at Farnborough on 10 September. The 2,098 square-metre facility cost $34 million and sits ramp-side, separate from the airport's main terminal. Access is limited to Flexjet fractional owners and guests, with dedicated security screening and immigration provided by the airport. Interior fitments include a full-size recreation of the Gulfstream G700 cabin, an owners' bar and lounge, meeting rooms and Flexjet's European headquarters. The site completes the operator's ground network in Europe, alongside nine private terminals in North America. Kenn Ricci, chairman, framed the opening as a defining moment in Flexjet's global expansion.
Source: Flexjet press release via GlobeNewswire, 10 September 2026; Corporate Jet Investor, 10 September 2026.
