Bombardier Business Aircraft’s flagship Global 7500 received FAA certification today, achieving another key milestone as it approaches service entry by year-end. The 7,700-nm, four-zone business jet gained Transport Canada’s nod on October 1, though EASA approval is still pending.

“This milestone is the latest accomplishment for our Global 7500, which has been exceeding expectations on every level,” said Michel Ouellette, senior v-p of the Global 7500 and 8000 programs. “The Global 7500 has proven itself as the highest-performing aircraft in the industry and promises to revolutionize the market and significantly change the business aviation landscape.”

Certification comes some eight years after Bombardier unveiled its longest range and largest business jet to date. While the program incurred a two-year delay to accommodate a wing redesign, certification follows a two-year flight-test program that included five aircraft that logged 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.