The US–Canada Aircraft Certification Dispute: What the Latest Threats Could Mean for Aviation Safety
Aircraft certification is designed to be technical, evidence-led and independent of politics. In late January 2026, a high-profile row involving the United States and Canada put that principle in the spotlight—raising questions for operators, owners and passengers alike.
What happened (in plain English)
In late January 2026, President Donald Trump publicly threatened to “decertify” Canadian-made aircraft and to impose a 50% tariff on aircraft imported from Canada, linking this to Canada’s pace in certifying (validating) certain US-made Gulfstream business jets for Canadian operation.
- Major outlets reported the threat to decertify Canadian-made aircraft and the proposed 50% tariff. (Reuters; Washington Post)
- A White House official indicated any action would not affect currently operating aircraft. (Reuters)
- Canada’s side emphasised certification should not be politicised and that discussions were ongoing. (Reuters)
What “aircraft certification” actually means
Aircraft certification is the formal, documented process by which a regulator confirms an aircraft meets airworthiness and safety standards. In the US, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issues type certification. In Canada, Transport Canada Civil Aviation performs the equivalent function.
Importantly, when an aircraft is designed and certificated in one country, another country often performs a validation—a structured review that can accept much of the original work while still asking for additional evidence where needed. This cooperation is governed by bilateral arrangements and implementation procedures. (FAA BASA listings and TC implementation procedures)
- FAA Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA) resources: FAA BASA listing page
- Transport Canada implementation procedures with the US: Transport Canada
Why Gulfstream is part of the story
Reporting around the dispute points to Canadian validation delays affecting certain Gulfstream business jets. A recurring technical theme in coverage is fuel-system icing—a hazard where water in fuel can freeze under cold conditions, potentially restricting fuel flow.
Fuel-system icing is a long-recognised risk across aviation. Transport Canada’s own safety advisory on the topic explains how water can be retained in fuel and later freeze, blocking fuel systems. (Transport Canada advisory)
The “time-limited exemption” referenced in reporting
In January 2024, the FAA issued a temporary exemption tied to fuel-icing certification rules for Gulfstream’s G700 and G800 programme work, with deadlines referenced as before 31 December 2026 in industry coverage and related documentation. (FlightGlobal; Exemption document (Regulations.gov PDF))
Why Bombardier is part of the story
President Trump’s public remarks targeted Canadian-manufactured aircraft—reporting frequently mentioned Bombardier’s Global family. Analysts and industry groups warned that broad “decertification” would be highly disruptive, given how many Canadian-built aircraft operate in US fleets.
Reuters reported more than 5,400 Canadian-built aircraft registered in the US and cited roughly 150 Bombardier Global Express jets registered in the US. (Reuters)
Can the FAA “decertify” aircraft for trade reasons?
Multiple aviation lawyers and industry watchers noted a core constraint: the FAA’s certification powers are grounded in airworthiness and safety—not trade retaliation. Reuters reported that legal experts said the FAA can revoke certification on safety grounds, not economic ones. (Reuters)
Why this matters to safety (and to everyday flyers)
Certification must stay evidence-led
When certification becomes a bargaining chip, trust in the system weakens—especially across borders where mutual confidence is essential.
Supply chains can feel the shock
Even threats can create uncertainty around deliveries, registrations, maintenance planning and parts provisioning—particularly for operators relying on cross-border support.
Current flights were not immediately affected
Reporting quoted a White House official saying operating aircraft would not be affected by the threatened action. (Reuters)
Global standards depend on cooperation
The aviation system works best when regulators share data, validate thoroughly and avoid “tit-for-tat” pressure.
Quick reference: what’s being discussed
| Aircraft / topic | What is known (fact-checked) | Why it matters for safety |
|---|---|---|
| Gulfstream G700 |
FAA certification was announced by Gulfstream on 29 March 2024. (Gulfstream release)
Validation debates reported |
Fuel-system icing compliance evidence and testing can be a legitimate validation focus. |
| Gulfstream G800 |
Gulfstream announced FAA and EASA certification on 16 April 2025. (PR Newswire / Gulfstream)
Exemption references through 2026 |
Time-limited exemptions place deadlines on completing specific compliance demonstrations. (Regulations.gov PDF) |
| Threatened “decertification” & tariff | Threats and tariff figure (50%) widely reported in late Jan 2026. (Reuters; Washington Post) | Regulatory independence is essential to public confidence; politicisation can raise systemic risk. |
| Canadian-built aircraft in US fleets |
Reuters cited 5,400+ Canadian-built aircraft registered in the US. (Reuters)
High disruption potential |
Any broad certification action would have knock-on effects for airline schedules, maintenance and parts. |
Data charts
Chart 1: Scale of exposure mentioned in reporting (US registrations)
Chart 2: Timeline of key milestones referenced in documentation
Images
The following images are sourced from Wikimedia Commons with permissive licences. You may replace them with your own licensed media (for example, your in-house photography) without changing the layout.
The terms people keep searching
- Type certificate (TC)
- The regulator’s approval that an aircraft’s basic design meets airworthiness standards. It’s the “design approval” foundation for production and operation.
- Validation
- A structured review by a second regulator (e.g., Canada reviewing a US-certificated aircraft) that may accept much of the original work but can request extra evidence.
- BASA (Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement)
- An agreement enabling cross-border cooperation on certification, production oversight and maintenance. It helps avoid duplicate work while allowing independent safety checks. (See FAA and Transport Canada BASA/implementation pages.)
- Fuel-system icing
- A hazard where water in fuel can freeze, potentially blocking fuel lines or components. It is a known aviation risk and has been addressed through advisories and testing guidance. (Transport Canada safety advisory.)
- Exemption (time-limited)
- A regulator-granted allowance to deviate from specific rules under defined conditions and deadlines—commonly used to permit operations while additional compliance demonstrations are completed.
Frequently asked questions
Are Bombardier aircraft currently flying in the US affected?
Reporting quoted a White House official indicating that operating aircraft would not be affected by the threatened action. (Reuters)
Why would Canada ask for more data if the FAA already certificated the aircraft?
Validation is meant to be cooperative but independent. A receiving authority can request additional evidence, particularly for hazards relevant to its operating environment (cold-weather risks, icing scenarios, operational assumptions, and so on). Transport Canada’s own material highlights fuel-system icing as a recognised hazard. (Transport Canada)
Can a president directly order aircraft certification changes?
Certification decisions are made by regulators under statutory authority. Reuters reported that legal experts said the FAA can revoke certification on safety grounds, not economic disputes. (Reuters)
What should operators and owners do right now?
Monitor official regulator communications, keep maintenance planning conservative, and avoid reacting to headlines alone. If you are planning cross-border operations or aircraft import/export, seek professional regulatory advice early.
Conclusion: keep certification technical, not tactical
The late-January 2026 dispute is a reminder that aviation safety depends on regulators being free to follow evidence wherever it leads. Delays and additional validation requests can be inconvenient, but they can also be a sign the system is doing what it was built to do: interrogate risk before it becomes an incident.
At Safe Fly Aviation, we encourage flyers—whether you are a passenger, a private owner, or a corporate operator—to treat certification as a safety signal, not a political headline. If you need support navigating operational, documentation or cross-border flight planning considerations, our team brings 15+ years of aviation experience to help you make informed decisions.
Sources & further reading (fact-check)
- Reuters coverage of the threats and expert/legal context (30 Jan 2026): Reuters link
- Reuters note on operating aircraft not being affected (30 Jan 2026): Reuters link
- Washington Post reporting (30 Jan 2026): Washington Post link
- FAA BASA resources (updated listing page): FAA
- Transport Canada implementation procedures with the US: Transport Canada
- Fuel system icing advisory (Transport Canada): Transport Canada
- Exemption documentation (Regulations.gov PDF): PDF
- Industry reporting on the FAA exemption (Jan 2024): FlightGlobal
- Gulfstream announcement: G700 FAA certification (29 Mar 2024): Gulfstream
- Gulfstream announcement: G800 FAA & EASA certification (16 Apr 2025): PR Newswire / Gulfstream
Editorial note: This article is an educational explainer and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. For operational decisions, consult official regulator publications and qualified aviation counsel.