Transport Canada has certified Gulfstream G500 and G600 jets, document says

MONTREAL, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Transport Canada has certified General Dynamics GD.N Gulfstream's G500 and G600 business jets, according to a government document, following a recent spat in which U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the Canadian regulator for taking too long to approve the aircraft.

The head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said earlier this month he expected Canada would soon announce it was certifying some Gulfstream business jets that had been delayed for years. According to a Transport Canada type certificate data sheet dated February 15 that has not been previously reported, the aircraft were approved.

Last month, Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. was planning to decertify Canadian-made Bombardier BBDb.TO Global Express business jets and threatened 50% import tariffs on all aircraft made in Canada until the country's regulator certified a number of planes produced by U.S. rival Gulfstream.

The certification of the U.S. jetmaker's G700 and G800 jets is still pending.

The incident raised alarm among aviation experts who argued that planes should be certified for safety reasons and be free from political influence.

Under global aviation rules the country where an aircraft is designed - the U.S. in Gulfstream's case - is responsible for primary certification known as a type certificate, vouching for the design’s safety.

Other countries typically validate the decision of the primary regulator, but have the right to refuse or ask for more data.