In the wake of sterling financial results at Embraer (ERJ), the first Phenom 100 fuselage and wing have been completed at Botucatu plant, in Sao Paulo state's interior. The aircraft is now at the Sao Jose dos Campos facility for wing-fuselage mating and final assembly. The two PW617 Pratt & Whitney-Canada engines, to be installed in April, have also been received by Embraer.
As part of the industrial plan for the Phenom programs, Embraer is upgrading two of its plants. The Botucatu facilities are being expanded by 95,800 square feet (8,900 square meters) and reconfigured to incorporate the sub-assembly lines of the Phenom 100 and the Phenom 300. A new facility is now under construction at the Gavião Peixoto plant. The128,800-square-foot (11,970 square-meter) building will house administrative offices, engineering, receiving and the final assembly line for the Phenom 100 and the Phenom 300 jets. An additional building for custom painting will be constructed by the end of 2007. Final assembly of the fourth Phenom 100 and beyond will occur at the Gavião Peixoto facility.
It is also using state-of-the-art design and manufacturing techniques. The design and production planning of the Phenom jets are entirely digital. The manufacturing of all primary parts was simulated via a digital manufacturing and virtual numeric-control software. After simulation, the main structures of the first Phenom 100 were built with an automated riveting machine. With the advance of the final assembly of the first jet, the main fuselage sections and structures of the second Phenom 100 aircraft have begun the initial assembly process. Announced in May 2005, the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 programs are on schedule. The Phenom 100 maiden flight is planned for mid-2007 and entry into service by mid-2008. The Phenom 300 first flight is expected for mid-2008 and deliveries by mid-2009.