The Federal Aviation Administration - FAA (NHK, Oklahoma City Will Rogers World) has removed the only Global 5000 it operated - used as a flying laboratory for the agency's flight activities - from the Part 135-certified fleet of its Flight Program Operations, ch-aviation research shows.

The 20.4-year-old Bombardier Business Aircraft, N47 (msn 9160), had been listed under the Part 135 certificate of Flight Program Operations, the unit responsible for all flight activities of the FAA, since new. It was last active on March 16, 2025, flying between Atlantic City, where it was based, and Oklahoma City Will Rogers World. The ultra-long-range jet, outfitted with flight-data test equipment, remains owned by the FAA.

"The FAA is always looking for the best way to streamline its aircraft fleet to meet its mission requirements safely and efficiently," the agency said in a statement to ch-aviation regarding the Global 5000’s retirement.

In the second half of 2024, Flight Program Operations phased out the sole Challenger 604 and Citation Sovereign+ jets it operated. Currently, the unit's Part 135 certificate comprises three Challenger 601-3Rs, six Challenger 605s, eight King Air C90s, and seventeen King Air B300s. The FAA also owns additional aircraft not listed as Part 135-certified.

Flight Program Operations is also a Part 145-certified repair station and manages the FAA’s manned and unmanned flight activities at eight facilities across the United States, providing support for inspection, research, training, maintenance, and emergency missions.