Phenom 100

Phenom 100 is a Brazilian-built very light jet produced by Embraer designed for business and utility transport, competing in a market alongside aircraft from Cessna, Bombardier Aerospace, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, and Honda Aircraft Company. The design emerged during a period of expansion in general aviation influenced by regulations in the Federal Aviation Administration, market demand from operators like NetJets and Flexjet, and technology trends exemplified by engines from Pratt & Whitney and avionics suites like those from Garmin and Honeywell International Inc.. Certification, development, and entry to service involved organizations such as the National Transportation Safety Board, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and airworthiness authorities in Brazil and the United States.

Development and design

The program was announced by Embraer amid growth in the very light jet segment that included competitors like the Eclipse Aviation Eclipse 500, the Cessna Citation Mustang, and projects from Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company and Piaggio Aero. Development tasks involved the collaboration of suppliers including GKN plc, Spirit AeroSystems, and Honeywell International Inc. for environmental control systems, with powerplants derived from work by Pratt & Whitney Canada. Flight-test activities were conducted at facilities associated with Embraer's São José dos Campos site and supported by certification teams from the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil and Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft incorporated a composite-rich structure influenced by designs from Dassault Aviation and AgustaWestland programs, a glass cockpit using technology akin to Garmin and Rockwell Collins systems, and aerodynamic features refined using wind tunnel testing at institutions similar to the University of São Paulo labs and industry centers in France and Germany.

Variants

Embraer marketed multiple configurations to meet orders from corporate flight departments, fractional operators, and government agencies similar to Civil Air Patrol and ministries of transport in nations like Mexico and Colombia. Production iterations paralleled trends seen in family programs by Bombardier Aerospace and Cessna, offering avionics upgrades reminiscent of packages from Garmin and cabin enhancements comparable to those on Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation light jets. Special mission adaptations were pursued for roles analogous to surveillance platforms used by agencies such as Brazilian Air Force units and law enforcement organizations in countries including Chile and Argentina.

Operational history

Entry into service involved operators ranging from corporate flight departments to charter firms and fractional ownership companies like NetJets and Flexjet, as well as flight training organizations similar to CAE Inc. and regional operators serving markets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The type has been deployed on routes linking business centers such as New York City, London, São Paulo, and Dubai, and has been subject to operational evaluations by analyst firms and publications including FlightGlobal and Aviation Week. Safety oversight and incident investigations have engaged authorities including the National Transportation Safety Board and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, while aftermarket support networks involve suppliers and service centers from companies like MTU Aero Engines and StandardAero.

Specifications

Typical specifications reflect capabilities similar to competitors from Cessna and Embraer's own family, including twin turbofan engines of a class produced by Pratt & Whitney affiliates, a pressurized cabin with seating arrangements used by corporate operators such as NetJets, and avionics suites comparable to offerings from Garmin and Honeywell International Inc.. Performance envelopes, range, and payload characteristics were benchmarked against types marketed by Bombardier Aerospace, Honda Aircraft Company, and Pilatus Aircraft.

Operators

Operators include corporate flight departments, fractional operators such as NetJets, charter companies operating in markets including United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and United Arab Emirates, and government or state entities in countries like Mexico and Colombia. Maintenance and training support are provided by global service networks connected to manufacturers and independent maintenance organizations such as StandardAero and CAE Inc..

Category:Embraer aircraft