Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A.) announced that its new Phenom 100 executive jet was certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) on December 12, 2008. Embraer began delivering the aircraft this week.The FAA granted a 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, 2008. EASA certification is expected for the second quarter of 2009.
According to information porovided by Embraer, 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 takeoff 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, established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), having been certified with a cumulative margin of 33 EPNdB.
Embraer says that the highly intuitive 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.
The Prodigy® flight deck features three interchangeable 12-inch displays – two Primary Flight Displays (PFD) and one Multi-Function Display (MFD). The system integrates all primary flight, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather, engine instrumentation, and crew-alert data, and presents the composite information on these three brilliant, sunlight-readable color high definition screens.
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