Brazilian-made Embraer's Phenom 100 entry level executive jet was certified this Monday, December 15, by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). All design goals were met or even surpassed, according to an Embraer press release. First deliveries begin next week.
"We are thrilled to announce that the Phenom 100 is certified by the FAA, as planned, confirming all of the exceptional performance characteristics previously approved by ANAC," said Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President for Executive Jets.
"U.S. certification validates the jet's design and its suitability for one of the most important business aviation markets."
The FAA granted U.S. Type Certificate based upon Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency's (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC) Type Certificate issued on December 9. EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certification is expected for the second quarter of 2009.
Brazilian Certification
Brazil-made Embraer's Phenom 100 entry level executive jet received its Type Certificate from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC), in a ceremony held December 10, at Embraer headquarters, in São José dos Campos, a city in the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo.
"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 Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President for 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. The Phenom 100 was conceived, developed, and certified in less than four years, which is very noteworthy," said Emilio Matsuo, Embraer's Senior Vice President for Engineering. "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% 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 Phenom 100 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. The Phenom 100's Prodigy flight deck, based on the acclaimed Garmin G1000 avionics suite, was also certified.
"We congratulate all Embraer teams and our partners, who made this best-in-class jet a reality, in such record-breaking time," said Affonso. "Embraer's hundreds of employees involved in the Phenom 100 program can be proud of having achieved, and even surpassed, the jet's challenging design goals. This achievement goes well beyond the certification of an aircraft. It represents a major building block for the future of Embraer Business Aviation."
Embraer's Executive Jets Customer Support and Services organization is ready for the Phenom 100 to enter service. Four new Embraer Executive Jets service centers were 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, Kentucky, in the U.S., is certified, operational and stocked with a complete inventory of repairable, expendable and structural parts for the Phenom jets.
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.
