FAA adopts AD 2026-22-07 requiring updated airworthiness limits for Rolls-Royce BR725 engines on Gulfstream G650s
Why It MattersThe directive makes the engine's updated life limits binding on U.S. operators of the G650 fleet, which could bring forward engine maintenance events and life-limited-part replacements and add to ownership costs.
The FAA has adopted airworthiness directive AD 2026-22-07, which takes effect Dec. 14 and requires operators to revise their maintenance or inspection programs to incorporate updated airworthiness limitations published by the manufacturer. The directive covers all BR700-725A1-12 engines, the BR725 variant fitted to the Gulfstream G650 and G650ER. U.S. operators have 30 days after the effective date, or until Jan. 13, 2027, to comply. The Gulfstream G550 and the Bombardier Global Express, Global Express XRS and Global 5000 use BR710 variants and are not covered.
The FAA estimates the maintenance program revision will take about one labor hour per engine, at an administrative cost of $85 per engine, and lists no parts cost.
The requirement is not new in Europe. EASA AD 2024-0136, issued in July 2024, tied it to Revision 27 of the engine's time limits manual, dated April 2024, and allowed 12 months to revise the maintenance program. The FAA's window for U.S. operators is considerably shorter.
The larger potential impact is the possible acceleration of future engine maintenance events and life-limited-part replacement schedules. GlobalAir.com's latest operating cost report puts the G650ER at about $11,046 per flight hour, or roughly $4.97 million a year at 450 flight hours.
