Date: 201910
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZZ.Airport, FO
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Gulfstream IV / G350 / G450
Operator: Air Taxi
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Parked
Aircraft component: Emergency Light
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Taxi
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: Captain
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: Aircraft In Service At Gate; Pre-flight
Result: General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: MEL; Manuals; Aircraft; Procedure
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: During our layover at [FBO] we were boarded by 2 Aviation Department officials to conduct a SAFA check. During the check they had the crew turn on the cabin emergency lights to check bulb operation. They took note of bulbs being out in 3 fixtures. PIC (Pilot in Command) immediately emailed Maintenance Control while myself and the officials began investing the MEL for relief. None was found. I looked at the MMEL in [program] and found relief in there. The French officials indicated it was nearly impossible to get Gulfstream Maintenance and said they wouldn't include the emergency lights in their findable actions on the check. They said to notify our Maintenance Department when we arrive back at ZZZZ where maintenance is easier obtained. This SAFA event took 1:20 and we only had approximately 30 minutes to make the plane ready for our revenue trip back to ZZZZ. Immediately after they left 3 Customs Officers boarded the aircraft and began asking for documentation and questioning the legitimacy of the revenue leg. By this point the crew was anxious to leave France and passengers were in the lobby going through copious amounts of additional screening with the PIC. During all this an email was received by the PIC saying maintenance will be arranged in ZZZZ1. We departed without writing up the emergency lights in France and wrote them immediately after landing. The stress placed on the crew by Customs by threatening to impound the aircraft and heavily fine the owner placed an undue urgency to depart without properly documenting the discrepancy.


Second narrative: Prior to the flight in question; we operated the inbound flight. We were immediately boarded for a SAFA check. It was discovered that several bulbs were inoperative in the emergency path lighting system. Company Maintenance was notified of this via email. Individual bulbs are part of the MMEL; but not our company MEL for the aircraft. We were told by the inspectors that because Gulfstream Maintenance was difficult to get; they did not add this to their report and verbally said we could get them fixed in ZZZZ1; our destination airport.  I emailed company the update; that we would depart and write the lights up in ZZZZ1. Maintenance acknowledged; 'please send write ups when you land'. We were then boarded by Customs officers. They remained on board questioning us about the legality of our flight for unrelated reasons; threatening to seize the aircraft. They decided not to press the issue and let us depart. There were some communication issues with FBO regarding passenger handling; and I was occupied with passenger check in and boarding until we departed about 30 minutes behind schedule. We departed without properly documenting the discrepancy; and wrote them up upon landing in ZZZZ.


Synopsis: Gulfstream IV flight crew reported cabin emergency lights were inoperative; requiring MEL action.