The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) hailed an ICAO council’s decision last week to raise the weight threshold requirement for hardened cockpit doors for aircraft with 19 or fewer seats from 100,310 pounds (45.5 metric tons) maximum certified takeoff weight to 120,152 pounds (54.5 metric tons). This means that current and future ultra-long-range business jets, including the 103,600-pound-mtow Gulfstream G650ER and in-development Bombardier Global 7000, will no longer need to meet this requirement.

According to IBAC director general Kurt Edwards, “This is a substantial accomplishment. For the last three years, IBAC has worked closely with the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries Associations (ICCAIA), Bombardier, and Gulfstream to make this amendment a reality. The effort took much planning and working through the full standard-making process at ICAO and shows ICAO recognition of greater operational capabilities and industry evolution.”

The adoption will facilitate full type certification and operational use of the G650ER and Global 7000, among others, and will become effective July 16 and applicable to member states in November. It amended a key standard in Annex 6 Part 1—International Commercial Air Transport. For example, a Gulfstream spokesperson told AIN that this move will permit the G650ER to obtain approval for air charter operations in Europe.