Embraer Selects Melbourne, FL For US
Phenom Assembly Line
Will Invest $50 Million To Establish
Facility At MLB
ANN REALTIME UPDATE 05.13.08 1700 EDT: It's official! Embraer announced
Tuesday it plans to invest an estimated US$ 50
million for the establishment of a new facility in
the United States dedicated to its executive jets
business. The new 150,000-square-foot
state-of-the-art facility will house a final
assembly line, the first for Embraer in the U.S. It
will be capable of producing both the Phenom 100 and
Phenom 300 executive jet models, as well as a paint
shop and a delivery and customer design center.
The announcement followed a high-level meeting
involving Melbourne mayor Harry Goode, Florida
Governor Charlie Crist, Enterprise Florida, and
other state and local officials.
After a rigorous and thorough site selection
process, the preferred location for the project is
Melbourne International Airport, in Melbourne,
Florida, which best satisfies all applicable
operational requirements and strategies. A
Memorandum of Intent has been executed between all
of the necessary parties, and a final decision is
predicated on approval by the State and local
governments.
Embraer expects to create approximately 200 skilled
positions by 2011. These will be necessary to
operate all aspects of the facility, including
aircraft assembly, production planning, logistics
and quality, aircraft interior design, corporate
administration, engineering, and aircraft painting,
delivery, and flight testing functions.
"Developing this new facility will allow Embraer to
respond to the growing demands of its executive jets
business and reaffirms our commitment to meet and
exceed customer requirements and expectations," said
Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO.
"We are very excited and confident that our new
location, in Melbourne, Florida, will be a
successful step and a special milestone for the
Company. We look forward to working with local
officials to finalize the proposal and begin the
development of this new facility."
"We welcome Embraer as a key player in Florida’s
expanding aviation sector," Governor Crist said.
"With this announcement, the Sunshine State again
demonstrates its ability to attract world-class
companies able to compete in the competitive global
economy."
Original Report
1200 EDT:
A meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Melbourne, FL may
lead to Brazilian planemaker Embraer locating a
showroom and production facility for its upcoming
Phenom 100 and 300 light jets in the Sunshine State.
Florida Today reports Governor Charlie Crist will
discuss details of the $41 million deal with
executives from Embraer. The meeting comes following
weeks of closed-door discussions between the two
sides.
The first phase of the plan would include building a
assembly facility on a 15-acre site at Melbourne
International Airport, according to sources. As many
as 200 jobs would be created by the new plant, which
could be operational by January 2010.
Embraer wants $1.8 million in economic incentives to
secure the deal... and local officials are
reportedly eager to talk, as the new jobs would
carry an average annual wage of $50,000 -- close to
$11,000 higher than current average wages in Brevard
County.
Last month, Embraer's Phenom 100 very-light-jet made
its first appearance in the United States,
undergoing cold-soak testing in the climate lab at
Eglin Air Force Base (above).
Embraer's Phenom 100 Completes Cold
Soak Trials
Plane Gets 'Chilly' Reception On
First US Trip
Embraer’s fourth Phenom 100 jet successfully
concluded its cold soak tests on April 14, moving
ahead with the aircraft’s maturity campaign. The
test was performed at a well-known climate
laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Its
objective is to certify the aircraft’s strength and
the functioning of the plane and its components
under condition of extreme cold.
"The maturity campaign is an important phase in the
development of the Phenom 100 jet," said Henrique
Langenegger, Embraer Vice President, Programs –
Executive Jets. "The tests in Florida were conducted
as planned and presented very satisfactory results.
Now, the campaign will continue in Brazil over the
coming months."
On its first trip to the United States, the Phenom
100 jet remained in a cold chamber for over 12
hours, down to a temperature of -40°F. The engines,
systems, batteries, opening and closing of the door,
and internal temperature were tested, among other
things. All of the results were very positive. The
cold soak tests not only certify the airplane’s
functioning under extreme temperature conditions,
but also provide valuable information for more
robust and simplified procedures for operations in a
cold climate.
The fourth Phenom 100 jet flew for the first time on
March 26, this year, at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto
plant, in outstate São Paulo. It is taking part in
the maturity campaign, consisting of an intensive
schedule of tests under real operating conditions,
including exposure to extremes of heat and cold.
At the same time, Embraer is carrying out the
certification campaign with the first three Phenom
100 aircraft. So far, vibration, stall, flight
quality, performance, and the Automatic Flight
Control System (AFCS), as well as other systems and
aircraft features, have been tested.
Certification of the Phenom 100 is expected during
the second half of 2008. The first Phenom 100 due
for customer delivery is already in the final
pre-assembly stage, according to the Brazilian
planemaker.
Embraer's Light Jet Makes Phenom-enal
First Flight
Phenom 300 Takes To Skies Earlier
Than Forecast
Embraer's Phenom 300 successfully took to the air on
its maiden flight Tuesday from the company’s Gavião
Peixoto test runway. In the coming months, the first
Phenom 300, serial number 99801, will participate in
the flight test campaign along with three additional
Phenom 300 jets. It is expected to enter service in
the second semester of 2009.
"This first flight of the Phenom 300 executive jet
is a very special and historic moment for all of us
at Embraer, and I congratulate every Embraer
employee for making this possible," said Frederico
Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO. "We
unveiled the Phenom jets nearly three years ago,
making a clear statement to the business aviation
community of our commitment to becoming a long-term
player in the executive aviation market. The first
flight of the Phenom 300 further confirms our
determination and is another solid step in Embraer’s
strategy to offer its customers a product line that
fully meets increasingly demanding customer
expectations."
The aircraft’s entirely digital development process,
as well as the total commitment of the teams
involved in the program, allowed moving up this
flight, which had originally been scheduled for
mid-year.
"We are thrilled with the Phenom 300’s successful
first flight, which gives us great confidence for
the upcoming program milestones," said Luís Carlos
Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive
Jets. "The Phenom 300 will deliver an unequalled
travel experience with the highest level of comfort
and performance in the light jet category."
During the one hour and twenty-two minute flight,
Captain John Sevalho Corção and Embraer Chief Pilot
Eduardo Alves Menini -- who also was a crew member
of the first flight of the Phenom 100 -- were
accompanied by flight test engineer Jens Peter
Theodor Geiger Wentz. The crew put the plane through
a number of maneuvers, checking the aircraft’s
flight characteristics and the operation of its
systems. Simultaneously, the engineering teams
involved in the Phenom 300 flight test campaign were
analyzing flight data transmitted in real time and
supporting the flight test crew from the ground.
"The crew is honored to have participated in this
important event, representing the great work of
hundreds of people whom we congratulate," said Capt.
Corção. "The quality of the Phenom 300 design and
onboard high technology provided a very smooth and
pleasant flight, increasing the thrill of flying the
aircraft for the first time."
On a schedule similar to that of the Phenom 100
very-light-jet, three Phenom 300 jets will spend
approximately 1,400 hours in the certification
program, and a fourth aircraft will be dedicated to
the maturity campaign. The tests to be conducted
with the 99801 aircraft will focus on performance
and defining the aerodynamic configuration. Other
tests, such as those dealing with systems functions
and reliability, vibrations on the ground, flying
qualities, flutter, water spray, single-point
refueling system, and so on, will be shared by the
first three test aircraft.
Embraer Rolls Out Its First
Phenom 300 Light Jet
Sees Light Of Day... And
Soon, Light Under Its Wheels
Embraer tells ANN the Brazilian planemaker
finished assembling its first Phenom 300 jet
at the Gavião Peixoto plant in São Paulo,
Brazil, on April 12. The rollout precedes a
series of ground tests to be conducted in
preparation for the jet's first flight in
mid-2008. Final assembly of the second
Phenom 300 has also begun at the same plant.
"We are thrilled to see the Phenom 300
become a reality," said Luís Carlos Affonso,
Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive
Jets. "The Phenom 300, with its premium
comfort, best-in-class performance and low
operating cost, will set a new standard for
the Light Jet category."
"The roll-out of the first Phenom 300 is a
rewarding achievement, a direct result of
the unwavering commitment and relentless
drive of our engineering, manufacturing and
quality teams," said Henrique Langenegger,
Embraer Vice President, Programs – Executive
Jets. "Over 400 engineers were commissioned
to the Phenom 300 program. The deployment of
state-of-theart technologies enabled a
paperless design process, efficient
integration of over 50 suppliers, serial
production tooling for the very first
aircraft, and fully-digital quality
assurance."
The Phenom 300 rollout occurred just 10
months after the smaller Phenom 100 was
unveiled for the first time in June 2007.
The first metal cut of the Phenom 300 took
place in late March 2007, with wings and
engines installed at the end of February
2008. March 2008 saw the first electrical
power-on. The sub-sections were assembled at
the Botucatu plant.
Different from the Phenom 100, the Phenom
300 went through final assembly at the
Gavião Peixoto plant, where the program's
test campaign will also take place. Despite
a strong familial resemblance between the
two aircraft, the Phenom 100 and 300 share
relatively few common components, according
to Embraer.
The nine-seat Phenom 300 is designed for
high utilization and availability. Powered
by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines
rated at 3,200 pounds of thrust each, the
Phenom 300's range with six occupants will
be 1,800 nautical miles (3,334 km or 2,071
miles) with NBAA IFR reserves, 35 minutes
and 100 nm alternate.
The aircraft is capable of flying at 45,000
feet (13,716 meters) at a maximum operating
speed of Mach 0.78 and is also designed for
short-field takeoffs, while standard
anti-skid brakes will aid in short-field
landings.
Based on Garmin's all-glass,
fully-integrated avionics suite, the Prodigy
flight deck offers Phenom 300 jet operators
more advantages than any other avionics
suite on today's market. The cockpit
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-alerting system data and presents the
composite information in brilliant,
sunlight-readable color on three
high-definition displays.
Expected to enter service in the second half
of 2009, the Phenom 300 is priced at US$
6.65 million, based on January 2005 economic
conditions, in the baseline configuration,
for FAA certification.
Embraer Reveals First
Phenom Customer In India
Bangalore-Based Aviators India Takes Two
Phenom 100s
Last week, Embraer disclosed a contract
with Indian business aviation solutions
company Aviators India Pvt. Ltd. for two
Phenom 100 executive jets, totaling US$ 5.96
million, at list price. This order,
announced at the Extravaganza Mumbai 2008,
February 22-23, in India, is already
included in Embraer’s firm order backlog.
Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2009.
"Aviators India has over ten years of
experience in the Indian marketplace. Their
choice of the Phenom 100 underscores our
confidence in the suitability of the
aircraft for this market," said Capt.
Manfred Baudzus, Embraer Director of
Marketing and Sales for Asia Pacific -
Executive Aviation. "We believe Aviators
will enjoy operating the Phenom 100
executive jet, whose comfort, high rate of
availability, performance and low operating
costs are standard setters in the Very Light
Jet category."
The Indian company is active in
consultancy services for aircraft
management, purchasing airplanes and
helicopters, and setting up corporate flight
departments.
"Amongst the aircraft in its class, the
Phenom 100 provides the best value for
investment and is a great personal
aircraft," said Capt. Arun Sharma, Managing
Director of Aviators India Pvt. Ltd.. "The
jet’s style, performance and comfort, in my
opinion, beat every aircraft in the market
and I have no doubt that the Phenom 100 will
become the preferred aircraft in India. We
are looking forward to receiving our
aircraft next year."
Aviators has been in business since 1994
and has bases in Bangalore (also
headquarters), Mumbai, Calcutta and Delhi.
The company says it provides "a holistic and
customer-centered approach" to business
aviation, offering in-flight information
services, aircraft and fuel sales, airplane
and helicopter charters (domestic and
international), aircraft charter sales
management, and operational support for
international flights.
|
Third Phenom 100 Takes Flight
Engine Mounting For Larger 300 Expected Soon
Just in time for the holidays, Embraer updated
ANN on the progress of the Brazilian planemaker's
light-jet program. The third Phenom 100 jet
took its first flight Friday from the test runway at
the Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility, outstate São
Paulo, Brazil. The aircraft will join the flight
test campaign, performing interior function and
reliability tests.
The jet -- the first to be completed in the
newly-inaugurated hangar at the same site -- will be
outfitted with the interior designed in partnership
with BMW DesignworksUSA. The fourth aircraft is in
the final assembly stage and will be used in the
Phenom 100 maturity campaign.
"The Phenom 100 flight test campaign has accrued
over 250 hours on more than 260 flights," said
Henrique Langenegger, Embraer Vice President,
Programs - Executive Jets. "The aircraft dispatch
reliability has been excellent, showing that all
investments made in product maturity were
worthwhile."
As ANN reported, the first Phenom 100
flew July 27. The test program now include three
Phenom 100 jets, which have recently completed
performance, flying qualities, flutter, water
ingestion, and artificial ice tests.
As the Phenom 100 progresses, Embraer also
announced the first fuselage for the larger Phenom
300 is also ready. The first pair of Pratt & Whitney
Canada PW535E engines has arrived at Embraer for
installation on the jet, once the wing-fuselage
mating occurs.
Final assembly of the Phenom 300 will take place
in the new Phenom production hangar at the Gavião
Peixoto facility.
|
The
Embraer Phenom 100 & 300 Micro Jet:
