EMBRAER’S PHENOM 100 AND PHENOM 300 JETS MEET THE MARKET

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Posted By: Marcel van Leeuwen October 17, 2009

 

PhenomForty-five Phenom 100s are in service, today, and Phenom 300 deliveries will begin soon

Embraer announced the Phenom jets in May 2005, and has steadily moved forward, ever since. The Company began accepting orders in June 2005, even before revealing the jet’s names at the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Annual Meeting and Convention, in November 2005. The Phenom 100 had its first metal cut in June 2006 and approximately one year later, in  July 2007, the first flight came. Unrestricted U.S. and Brazil certifications were granted in December 2008, with deliveries beginning that same month. On a similar path, the Phenom 300 first metal cut took place in April 2007 and the maiden flight in April 2008. Currently, the jet is finalizing its certification campaign, targeting first deliveries by the end of this year. 

 

Phenom 300 – Program Status

 

The light jet is in the final certification phase, with over 1,000 flight hours accumulated. The test fleet is comprised of five pre-series aircraft – two with full instrumentation, two with partial instrumentation and parts of the interior, and one with complete interior for function and reliability tests.

The first aircraft (PP-XVI) has finished crosswind takeoff and landing, flutter and high-speed tests. Having concluded natural ice conditions tests, the airframe is currently being evaluated under simulated icing conditions. The power plant, fuel, air management, brake, electrical, and hydraulic systems tests were concluded by the second pre-series Phenom 300 (PP-XVJ). The autopilot and high altitude takeoff and landing performance were also evaluated by this aircraft.

The third pre-series aircraft (PP-XVK) has completed all of the runway performance tests and is currently finishing avionics trials.

 

 

 

High Intensity Radiated Field (HIRF), lightning, cold soak and external noise testing have been concluded by the fourth pre-series jet (PP-XVL). The airplane was also used to validate the maintenance plan, as well as to evaluate internal noise/thermal comfort and perform smoke/emergency evacuation tests. The fifth pre-series aircraft (PP-XVM) joined the certification campaign last August. It wasthe first to be configured with a complete interior, featuring berthable seats and a drop-down ceiling monitor. The jet was exhibited at the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exposition (LABACE), in São Paulo, Brazil, and is confirmed for NBAA 2009, in Orlando, Florida, U.S., October 20-22. Function and reliability tests are currently underway to evaluate such important features as single-point refueling, externally serviced lavatory (unique in the category), and low cabin altitude.

Besides the five aircraft in the flight test campaign, ground-based structural tests are also advancing. Bird strike and wing ultimate load tests were finished. Fatigue tests have been completed, including 1,000 cycles required for wing-fuselage certification, confirming that the Phenom 300 is a robust and reliable platform. As recently acknowledged by the trade media, the Phenom 300’s price, cabin, performance, and fuel efficiency make it a serious contender in the light jet segment.

 

Phenom 100 – Program Status

 

The entry level jet went into operation in December 2008. To date, the aircraft has logged over 3,000 flight hours, with a total of 45 aircraft delivered, worldwide, as of September 30, 2009. Although enjoying great acceptance and success, Embraer continues improving the Phenom 100 to meet the challenging and dynamic business jet market. Throughout 2009, Embraer worked on developments that further enhance customer satisfaction. To increase interior comfort, new and stylish cabin seats were designed, offering ergonomically improved cushions, greater aisle width, plus retractable armrests. The seats will become a standard item, and existing operators will be able to retrofit their aircraft under special commercial conditions. A cabin divider was developed, providing passengers with a real lavatory door, as an option to substitute the current curtains. This increases privacy and also helps to improve cabin noise levels. A new In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system includes such features as XM radio, ambient sound system, capability for passengers to listen to Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications in the cabin, an interface for portable media players, and a VIP panel that allows cabin temperature regulation.

 

 

 

 

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