Embraer has introduced a series of avionics upgrades to its Phenom 300E business jet, along with an increase in engine thrust that allowed it to become business aviation’s first single pilot jet to achieve Mach 0.80. Photo: Embraer Executive Jets
Embraer has added a series of new avionics and interior cabin upgrades to its Phenom 300E light jet, while also confirming an increase in speed observed during a recent flight test of the aircraft.
According to Embraer, the Phenom 300E achieved Mach 0.80 during a recent flight-testing campaign, which was enabled by a software modification to the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney PW535E full authority digital engine control (FADEC) resulting in an increased thrust of 118 lbf per engine, which has been renamed the PW535E1. The FADEC software upgrade was coupled with a number of updates to the Phenom 300’s communication, navigation and surveillance capabilities led by new line replaceable units, a new weather radar antenna and Garmin’s G3000 integrated flight deck.
New functionality enabled by the avionics upgrades include the following:
- ADS-B In
- Coupled Go-Around
- Display of VOR Bearing
- Enhanced HIS
- FAA Data Comm (CPDLC in the continental United States)
- Garmin Flight Charts
- Graphical Weight and Balance
- MFD Navigation Bar New Parameters
- Stabilized Approach
Embraer also incorporated a new runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROASS) that includes an approach and landing assistant.
“Embraer has patented this technology and is the first OEM in business aviation to develop and certify it,” Alvadi Serpa, director of product strategy for Embraer Executive Jets, told Avionics International.
The Phenom 300E’s technology refresh also includes a new connectivity package enabled by Gogo’s 4G air to ground connectivity system, AVANCE L5. Gogo describes AVANCE as its smart router technology featuring network management, cloud-based service support and smartphone text and talk capabilities.
Embraer’s Bossa Nova interior cabin option for the Phenom 300E was first unveiled for the Praetor 500/600 jets. Photo: Embraer Executive Jets
Phenom 300E operators can select the technology as an optional upgrade, which requires the installation of the multi-function L5 box that manages the use of Gogo’s network on the aircraft, providing in-flight data, voice, moving maps and entertainment applications to the cabin.
“Two new cellular antennas are also required for ground-based 3g/4g connections, which are functional in more than 100 countries. And two new dual-directional ATG antennas are required for more reliable performance in the continental US and parts of Alaska and Canada,” Serpa said.
As part of the upgrade package, Embraer is also now making the Bossa Nova Edition interior – first featured on the Praetor 500/600s that Embraer debuted in 2018 – as a new cabin option for Phenom 300 operators. The interior features carbon fiber materials and piano-black coloring, that has also helped to reduce overall in-flight cabin noise.
Another view of the Bossa Nova interior cabin design on the upgraded Phenom 300E. Photo: Embraer Executive Jets
Phenom business jets were one of the aircraft types that Embraer said it was targeting for fly-by-wire upgrades during an interview with Avionics International at the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference in October. During the event, Flexjet LLC placed an order for a combination of up to 64 Praetor 500/600 and Phenom 300s.
“Despite the Phenom 300’s extraordinary success in the past decade, our team of visionaries is always striving to deliver the ultimate experience to our customers, which means taking an industry-leading aircraft and making it even better, faster and safer,” Embraer Executive Jets CEO Michael Amalfitano said in a statement published by Embraer.
Deliveries of the upgraded Phenom 300Es are set to begin in May 2020.