Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Authority (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC) granted the Embraer Phenom 100 its type certificate at a ceremony held December 9 in São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Certification of the Phenom 100 by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected soon. Both the Brazilian and the U.S. certifications will enable the Phenom 100 deliveries to begin in the coming weeks.
As of January 5, 2009, the Phenom 100 will be priced at US$3.18 million for FAA certification, and US$3.25 million for ANAC certification, both based on January 2005 economic conditions for a baseline configuration. Brought to January 2009 economic conditions, the price will be US$3.6 million for FAA certification and US$3.68 million for ANAC and EASA certifications, subject to escalation until delivery.
“In 2005, we promised to design and build a revolutionary jet with premium comfort, outstanding performance, docile flying qualities, and a low operating cost,” said Luís Carlos Affonso, executive vice president, executive jets. “We have relentlessly pursued these design goals and, now, I am thrilled to announce that the Phenom 100 has not only met all original specification targets, but has also surpassed several performance goals.”
“This certification makes all of us at Embraer very proud,” said Emilio Matsuo, senior vice president, engineering. “The Phenom 100 was conceived, developed, and certified in less than four years, which is very noteworthy. Furthermore, the performance figures obtained demonstrate the product's excellent design.”
The Phenom 100’s maximum range, originally projected to be 1,160 nautical miles (2,148 kilometers or 1,335 miles), has been extended to 1,178 nautical miles (2,182 kilometers or 1,356 miles) with four occupants and NBAA IFR reserves. An optional enhanced take-off performance package was included in the aircraft certification, resulting in a 3,125 feet take-off field length at maximum take-off weight. The standard take-off field length is 3,400 feet as initially specified. For departures from airports with restrictions due to high temperatures or high elevations, or both, take-off climb performance has also surpassed the design target, providing up to 300 nautical miles extra range. Another performance improvement was achieved with the landing distance, verified to be only 2,699 feet at maximum landing weight, 301 feet shorter than initially specified. Powered by two fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F-E engines, the Phenom 100’s fuel consumption is confirmed to be better than originally estimated, saving as much as 3.6 percent on longer trips.
The flight test campaign also validated the Phenom 100’s top speed of 390 knots (true air speed), 10 knots faster than initially projected. The aircraft is capable of climbing directly to its maximum cruise altitude of 41,000 feet, even at maximum take-off weight. Certified without restrictions, the Phenom 100 is able to fly under Visual and Instrument Flight Rules conditions, day or night, and into known or forecasted icing conditions. The aircraft also operates well within Stage IV external noise requirements, establishing by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), having been certified with a cumulative margin of 33 EPNdB.
The highly intuitive Phenom100 man-machine interface, based on a quiet and dark cockpit philosophy that offers full situational awareness and automation for a low workload, enabled the certification for single-pilot operation, said Embraer. The Phenom 100’s Prodigy® flight deck, based on the Garmin G1000 avionics suite, was also certified.
The interior of the Phenom 100 was certified with its features and collections of finishing materials. The Oval Lite cross-section benefits passengers with greater space and comfort, enhanced by an abundance of natural light from the largest windows in the entry level category, said Embraer. In addition, the forward wardrobe and private rear lavatory with storage space add convenience for a premium travel experience.
Embraer’s Executive Jets Customer Support and Services organization is ready for the Phenom 100 to enter service with four new Embraer Executive Jets service centers recently inaugurated in the U.S. and Europe. The entire network will be comprised of seven wholly owned and 38 authorized service centers, worldwide.
The first Phenom 100 customers have already been trained by the Embraer CAE Training Services joint venture, and service center professionals have received training to perform technical and mechanical services on the Phenom 100.
A newly-implemented customer contact center is operational, ready and standing by to provide customers with complete and timely assistance for operational, technical and maintenance needs. Embraer’s new parts distribution center, operated by UPS Supply Chain Solutions in Louisville, Ky., is certified, operational and stocked with a complete inventory of repairable, expendable and structural parts for the Phenom jets.
The company broke ground on December 4 on a new assembly facility in Florida. Embraer’s 150,000-square-foot facility will house a final assembly line capable of producing both the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 executive jets, as well as a paint shop and a delivery and customer design center.
Present at the ceremony were Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Melbourne City Mayor Harry Goode, and other state and local officials staffing ceremonial shovels, along with Embraer President & CEO Frederico Fleury Curado.
When full capacity is reached, up to eight Phenom business jets will be produced every month at this facility. The Melbourne plant will become Embraer’s Executive Jets Customer Center for the configuration of the Phenom, Legacy and Lineage jets. Customers will be able to design their executive jet’s interior with the use of high-end 3D visualization technology, supported by a showroom with a vast collection of interior finishing materials. The new facility is scheduled for completion in 2010.