Phenom 100EV Is Just A Touch More Phenomenal With Increased Range And Hot-And-High Capability

By Kathryn B. Creedy

With deliveries scheduled for the first half of 2017, Embraer Executive Jets introduced the next generation Phenom 100, dubbed the Phenom 100 Evolution (EV), with increased power, range and payload along with a new avionics suite.

“The Phenom 100 revolutionized the entry-level segment when it set new standards for comfort, performance, and operating costs,” said President and CEO Marco Tulio Pellegrini. “The new Phenom 100EV will deliver even greater performance and operational capability while preserving its low operating and maintenance costs.”

The entry-level, $4.495-million jet is speedier than the standard version and has superior hot-and-high performance and seems specifically designed for its first two customers – Tuluca, Mexico-based Across which is converting seven Phenom 100s to 100EVs and Dubai-based Emirates Flight Training Academy, which is converting its order for five Phenon 100s plus five options.

Embraer Executive Jets is not planning to have a retrofit program saying it expects most customers will transition up from the 100 to the 100EV considering the cost of retrofitting.

The Phenom 100EV comes as market conditions for light jets remain very challenging but Pelligrini suggested in the mid-term, that will change. “Our market is upside down,” he said. “In no other industry do you have the most expensive product selling more than the least expensive, especially in challenging economic conditions. The Phenom is the foundation of our executive aviation fleet and that market is still very depressed. But we are very confident that, in the medium term, the improved customer confidence will change that and that is why we continue to invest in the product. Right now the commercial fleet is rising and the executive fleet is flat or going down but there are many who are working to create new business models to increase business aviation flying leveraging the airline hassle factor.”

The Emirates order is significant for a couple of reasons. First, it will be the first flight academy to offer the jet to cadets and, second, it is the leading edge of a trend to create indigenous flight training academies rather than send their cadets to US schools to train. Foreign pilots constitute about 50% of US training capacity. The facility opens in October.

The Embraer Executive line, including the Phenom 100, specifically adopted the high-utilization capacity of Embraer commercial jet line, is being adopted by business aviation, charter companies and flight academies needing that capacity. The company currently has nearly 350 Phenom 100 jets are operating in 37 countries.

Pelligrini said Embraer worked closely with Pratt & Whitney to eek out more performance from the engine. The modification of the PW617F1-E engines, with 1,730 pounds of thrust, reaches a 405 ktas high-speed cruise. It offers up to 15% more thrust at hot-and-high airports, which equates to more range and a faster time to climb.

Of course, the performance in challenging hot conditions is what attracted Emirates and Across to the jet.

“As Mexico’s premier air charter solutions provider, our customers expect a world-class experience,” said Across CEO Pedro Corsi Amerlinck, whose company is based at 8,500 feet above sea level. “Now, with the addition of the Phenom 100 EV to our fleet can fly non-stop routes, such as Toluca to Houston and Toluca to Cancun.”

Across is a relatively new operator of the Embraer Phenom adding it to its disparate fleet, including also propeller-driven aircraft and helicopters. “Embraer has delivered on all its promises and our experience at introducing and flying the aircraft has exceeded all expectations,” he said, adding Across expects to take delivery of three this year.

Emirates is also taking advantage of the hot performance but was trying to solve a different problem as well. “We had a problem filling the gap between turboprops and our largest jets including the Airbus A380,” said Emirates Flight Academy Vice President Operations Captain Abdulla A Al Hammadi. “The Phenom 100EV fills that gap because it has a lot of the systems and safety features cadets will be seeing as the progress. With temperatures sometimes reaching 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the Phenom 100 is the only aircraft that can provide the service we need.”

Emirates Chief Operations Officer Adel Al Redha reiterated his confidence in the jet. “We consider the Phenom 100 the entry-level jet that will offer trainees unmatched systems integration and ease of operation, a high utilization design, low operating costs, airliner-grade performance and docile flying characteristics,” he said. “Our cadets will benefit from next generation technology, speed and thrust for their training missions in the Phenom 100EV.”

Redha was talking about the new avionics aboard the Phenom 100EV which is centered on the touchscreen-controlled Prodigy Touch flight deck, based on the Garmin G3000, with larger HD displays, split screen capability, and a new weather radar.

The aircraft also brings new interior enhancements to what is already the roomiest aircraft in its class. These include new floor sill, featuring a straight-line design to increase the aisle area as well as relocated power outlets with USB chargers. Embraer Executive Jets offers 11 interior design collections, natural light from large windows, typically only seen in larger aircraft. It also has refreshment center also more familiar to larger jets along with an integrated air stair and the largest baggage compartment in its class.

(Top image from Staff. Embraer Executive Jets President Marco Tulio (left) with Across CEO Pedro Corsi Amerlinck (center) and Emirates Flight Academy Vice President Operations Captain Abdulla A Al Hammadi (right) in front of the latest model of Embraer’s versatile Phenom 100 – the Phenom100EV. Lower images provided by Embraer)

FMI: www.embraer.com