Bombardier Global 5000/5500: how 111 jets are really flown
The busiest 5% made more than 25 flights a month and the quietest 5% fewer than 3: over eight times as many, on the same type.
At the harder end, one Global 5000/5500 in twenty sees a freeze and a thaw on 27% or more of its nights. At the easier end, it is 1% or less.
The hardest-worked 5% log 25 flights a month or more; the easiest-used, 3 or less. The middle aircraft sits at 7.
The harder end, one aircraft in twenty, is at 2,824 ft or more; the easier end at 402 ft or less.
Fatigue
What each landing and pressurization cycle costs the structure: landings per hour and short hops.
The middle Global 5000/5500 flies 2.1 hours for every landing. One in twenty lands every 1.4 hours or sooner, the most cycles for its time.
Middle half 1.9–2.4 : 1Harder end: 5% at 1.4 : 1 or lessEasier end: 5% at 3.0 : 1 or more
Middle half 27–39%Harder end: 5% at 60% or moreEasier end: 5% at 13% or less
Middle half 498–758 nmLowest 5%: 176 nm or lessHighest 5%: 1,065 nm or more
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Spread of trip lengths
All 111 Global 5000/5500sThe data behind it
Every measure for the 111 North America Global 5000/5500s, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per landing Each aircraft’s average flight hours per landing | 2.1 : 1 | 1.9–2.4 : 1 |
| Short hops Share of legs under 300 nm | 34% | 27–39% |
| Leg length Median leg | 589 nm | 498–758 nm |
Corrosion
What the air around it does overnight: salt, damp and freeze–thaw.
The middle Global 5000/5500 spends 5% of its nights within 2 km of the coast. One in twenty spends 50% or more of them there.
Middle half 1–11%Harder end: 5% at 50% or moreEasier end: 5% at 0%
Middle half 6.3–8.5 hHarder end: 5% at 10.6 h or moreEasier end: 5% at 3.2 h or less
Middle half 5–16%Harder end: 5% at 27% or moreEasier end: 5% at 1% or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Salt air across the fleet
98 Global 5000/5500sThe data behind it
Every measure for the 98 of the 111 North America Global 5000/5500s with enough nights at known fields, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (2 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Salt air Nights within 2 km of the coast | 5% | 1–11% |
| Near the coast Nights within 10 km of the coast | 36% | 11–51% |
| Damp air Hours a day at 80% humidity or more, above freezing | 7.4 h | 6.3–8.5 h |
| Freeze–thaw Nights that froze and thawed within the day | 8% | 5–16% |
| Moisture in the air Average absolute humidity overnight | 9.3 g/m³ | 8.1–10.4 g/m³ |
Engines and brakes
What departures ask of engines, brakes and tires: heat and height, and runway length.
The middle Global 5000/5500 takes off at 5,000 ft density altitude or more on 4% of its departures. One in twenty does on 15% or more. Short-runway departures aren't compared yet: we don't have a sourced takeoff distance for the Global 5000/5500.
Middle half 2–7%Harder end: 5% at 15% or moreEasier end: 5% at 0%
Middle half 954–1,440 ftHarder end: 5% at 2,824 ft or moreEasier end: 5% at 402 ft or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
The data behind it
Every measure for the 111 North America Global 5000/5500s, 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026 (2 on their record since 1 Jan 2025: too few departures in the 12 months).| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Hot, high takeoffs Departures at 5,000 ft density altitude or more | 4% | 2–7% |
| Density altitude Typical density altitude at takeoff | 1,244 ft | 954–1,440 ft |
Utilization
How steadily the fleet is used: flights, flying days and estimated hours.
The middle Global 5000/5500 made 7 flights a month. The busiest 5% made 25 or more, the quietest 3 or fewer.
Middle half 5.3–17.3Harder end: 5% at 25.2 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.9 or less
Middle half 3.8–11.0Harder end: 5% at 14.9 or moreEasier end: 5% at 2.6 or less
Middle half 127–445 hHarder end: 5% at ≈636 h or moreEasier end: 5% at ≈91 h or less
Context, not graded: the tint marks the harder and easier end of the fleet.
Month by month
12 monthsMedian flights per aircraft that flew that month · darker bar is the busiest month, October 2025
The data behind it
Every measure for the 111 North America Global 5000/5500s, every active aircraft (no 40% tracking floor here: on this type it would change which aircraft are compared, not just drop undercounted ones), 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026.| Measure | Fleet median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| Flights a month In the months it flew | 7.5 | 5.3–17.3 |
| Days flown a month Days with at least one flight | 5.8 | 3.8–11.0 |
| Estimated hours a year From time in the air | ≈198 h | 127–445 h |
Buying, selling or financing a Global 5000/5500?
See where your Global 5000/5500 sits in the fleet.
Enter a tail number to place it against these 111 aircraft. TailCheck grades it on Fatigue, Corrosion, Engines and brakes, and Utilization, with every percentile shown.
Where Global 5000/5500s are based and fly
Teterboro is home to more Global 5000/5500s than any other field, 5 of the 67 with a home base.
Washington Dulles–Teterboro is the busiest route: 104 flights by 38 different aircraft.
Where Global 5000/5500s are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Teterboro | 5 | |
| Toronto Pearson | 4 | |
| Lawrence G. Hanscom | 4 | |
| Miami-Opa Locka | 3 | |
| Scottsdale | 3 | |
| Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau | 2 |
Busiest Global 5000/5500 routes
| Between | Flights |
|---|---|
| Washington Dulles ⇄ Teterboro | 104 flights |
| Teterboro ⇄ Van Nuys | 85 |
| Lawrence G. Hanscom ⇄ Teterboro | 82 |
| Palm Beach ⇄ Teterboro | 82 |
| Toronto Pearson ⇄ Teterboro | 64 |
| Westchester ⇄ Teterboro | 63 |
Longest Global 5000/5500 flights
| Between | Distance · time |
|---|---|
| Tokyo → Waukegan | 5,446 nm · 10 h 29 min |
| Licenciado Adolfo Lopez Mateos → Friedrichshafen | 5,276 nm · 10 h 33 min |
| Moffett Federal → Praia Verde Airstrip | 5,045 nm · 10 h 26 min |
| Hayward Air Terminal → Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas | 5,028 nm · 11 h 30 min |
| General Mariano Matamoros → Paris-Le Bourget | 4,998 nm · 10 h 19 min |
Busiest Global 5000/5500s this year
The busiest Global 5000/5500 made 32 flights a month, four times the middle aircraft.
Even the tenth on this list made 24.
Ranked by flights a month · updated monthly
| # | Tail | Flights a month | Estimated hours a year | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N136QS | 32 | 801 h | Check this tail → |
| 2 | N501VJ | 28 | 755 h | Check this tail → |
| 3 | N133QS | 26 | 607 h | Check this tail → |
| 4 | N502VJ | 26 | 686 h | Check this tail → |
| 5 | N503VJ | 26 | 647 h | Check this tail → |
| 6 | N504VJ | 25 | 621 h | Check this tail → |
| 7 | N500VJ | 25 | 625 h | Check this tail → |
| 8 | N127QS | 25 | 674 h | Check this tail → |
| 9 | N132QS | 25 | 549 h | Check this tail → |
| 10 | N128QS | 24 | 543 h | Check this tail → |
Global 5000/5500 vs other aircraft of its size
Medians for each North America fleet, same window and method.
Of the 5 types in its size group, it flies most often.
| Type | Tracked | Flights a month | Hours a year | Median leg | Hours per landing | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombardier Global 5000/5500 | 111 | 7.5 | 198 h | 589 nm | 2.1 : 1 | 34% |
| Dassault Falcon 900 | 336 | 5.3 | 117 h | 534 nm | 1.7 : 1 | 32% |
| Bombardier Global 6000/6500 | 261 | 6.3 | 187 h | 658 nm | 2.5 : 1 | 31% |
| Dassault Falcon 7X | 126 | 7.3 | 173 h | 614 nm | 2.1 : 1 | 28% |
| Embraer Praetor 600 | 116 | 6.7 | 146 h | 472 nm | 1.6 : 1 | 35% |
Global 5000/5500 vs Global 6000/6500 →Global 5000/5500 vs GIV →Global 5000/5500 vs GV →
Do older Global 5000/5500s fly differently?
Age matters: by year built, the median Global 5000/5500 in each band flew between 151 and 437 estimated hours a year.
Show the tableHide the table
| Serial block | Built | Tracked | Hours a year | Median leg | Short hops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9140–9520 | 2004–12 | 34 | 151 h | 661 nm | 34% |
| 9386–60185 | 2013–25 | 55 | 437 h | 540 nm | 34% |
US-registered aircraft only: the FAA registry gives serial number and year of manufacture for 89 of the 111 we track. Built = year of manufacture. Avionics upgrades are fitted by modification and the registry doesn’t show them, so check an aircraft’s records.
Global 5000 vs Global 5500: on paper
One page covers both models: the tracking data doesn’t tell them apart.
Certified figures come from the type certificate data sheet; the rest are the manufacturer’s.
| Measure | Global 5000 | Global 5500 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight (certified) | 92,500 lb | 92,500 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.009 Issue 14, p.12 |
| Maximum ramp weight (certified) | 92,750 lb | 92,750 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.009 Issue 14, p.12 |
| Fuel capacity (certified) | 36,187–39,250 lb | 36,187–39,250 lb | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.009 Issue 14, p.11 — 36,187 lb (basic) · 39,250 lb (with SB 700-1A11-11-008, SB 700-11-5004 or Modsum 700T900765) |
| Range (manufacturer) | — | ≈ 5,900 nm | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 7 Sep 2026) |
| Takeoff distance (manufacturer) | — | 5,340 ft | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 7 Sep 2026) |
| Passengers | Up to 19 certified | Up to 19 certified · manufacturer layouts 16–16 | EASA TCDS EASA.IM.A.009 Issue 14, p.17; Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 7 Sep 2026) |
| Fuel capacity, US gallons (approx.) | ≈ 5,400–5,860 US gal | ≈ 5,400–5,860 US gal | From the certified pounds at 6.7 lb per US gallon of Jet A; actual density varies with temperature |
| High-speed cruise (manufacturer) | — | Mach 0.88 | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 7 Sep 2026) |
| Length (manufacturer) | — | 96 ft 10 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 7 Sep 2026) |
| Wingspan (manufacturer) | — | 94 ft | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 7 Sep 2026) |
| Height (manufacturer) | — | 25 ft 6 in | Manufacturer (spec page, Web page, captured 7 Sep 2026) |
Chartering a Global 5000/5500
65 of the 111 North America Global 5000/5500s we track are on our charter list (59%).
Charter aircraft flew a median 313 estimated hours a year on 14 flights a month; the rest flew 138 hours on 6.
Where charter Global 5000/5500s are based
| Field | Share | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Pearson | 4 | |
| Teterboro | 4 | |
| Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau | 2 | |
| Lawrence G. Hanscom | 2 | |
| Calgary | 1 | |
| Addison | 1 |
Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft. No charter rates: prices depend on the operator and the trip. Check a specific aircraft’s record with its tail number before you book.
Global 5000/5500 questions
How many hours a year does a Global 5000/5500 fly?
The median North America Global 5000/5500 flies about 198 estimated hours a year; the middle half sits between 127 and 445. About 1 in 20 flies more than 636.
How often does a Global 5000/5500 fly?
7 flights a month on 6 flying days at the median. About 1 in 20 makes more than 25 flights a month.
How long is a typical Global 5000/5500 flight?
The median leg is 589 nm. About 1 in 20 aircraft average more than 1,065 nm a leg.
Is a high-hours Global 5000/5500 a bad buy?
Not by itself. High hours on long legs are gentler on the structure than the same hours on short hops. Look at hours per landing and short-hop share alongside hours.
Can a Global 5000/5500 fly across the Atlantic?
Yes. The manufacturer quotes 5,900 nm for the Global 5500. In our tracking window, 98 of the 111 North America aircraft flew 739 nonstop crossings between the Americas and Europe or Africa. The busiest were Teterboro–Paris-Le Bourget (33 flights), Luton–Teterboro (23 flights), Teterboro–Nice Cote d'Azur (13 flights).
Where are most Global 5000/5500 aircraft based?
In North America, Teterboro is home to the most, followed by Toronto Pearson and Lawrence G. Hanscom. A base is the field an aircraft touches on most of its flying days, month after month.
Cite this data
The Aircraft Ledger. “Bombardier Global 5000/5500 fleet statistics.” Data to 31 July 2026. theaircraftledger.com/aircraft/bombardier/global-5000-5500
Method: Bombardier Global 5000/5500 aircraft with most departures in North America and at least 20 tracked flights in the latest twelve full months. Flight measures, bases, routes and rankings use ADS-B tracking 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2026; corrosion and engines-and-brakes exposure use the same twelve months, or an aircraft’s record since 1 Jan 2025 when it had too few nights or departures in them. Estimated hours from time in the air. Tracking misses some flights, so counts and hours are minimums. ADS-B coverage grew over the window, so we don’t compare one year with the last. Tracking can’t tell one variant from another; the variant split, the busiest table’s variants and the age table use the FAA registry, so they cover US-registered aircraft only. We assume the longest runway at each field, so short-runway figures are conservative. Corrosion measures cover the aircraft we can place on enough nights. Charter status is our own list, built from FAA records and public listings of charter aircraft. About our data