The Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 is a very light (VLJ) business jet designed and produced by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. Announced in November 2005, it made its first flight on 26 July 2007 and was awarded a type certificate in December 2008; the first aircraft was delivered the same month. The Phenom 100 has been stretched into the larger Embraer Phenom 300. Powered by two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PW600 turbofans, it can transport four to seven passengers, with a range of 1,178 nautical miles [nmi] (2,182km; 1,356mi) with four occupants. As of April 2023, 401 had been delivered.
During April 2005, Embraer's board of directors approved the development of very light and light jets. Within ten years, it was hoped that the company could become a major provider for the global business jet market.[2] On 9 November of that year, the company announced at the annual NBAA convention the name of its very light jet, the Phenom 100, and displayed a full-scale mock-up of the aircraft.[3] The company stated that it was actively exploring opportunities for the Phenom 100 to be used as an air taxi.[4] Embraer also opted to increase personnel on its business jet division.[5] That same month, Embraer announced that it had selected Garmin Aviation's G1000electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) to be installed in the cockpit of its new jet.[6]
In March 2006, Embraer announced it had completed the aircraft's digital definition phase of development.[7][8] That same month, the company augmented its sales efforts with several full-sized mockups of the Phenom 100.[9] That April, expanded plans for the aircraft's production were revealed along with a 3.5% increase in the unit price.[10][11] The company reportedly aimed to secure 30% of the global market for very light jets.[12] In May 2006, it was announced at the EBACE conference that 50 orders for the Phenom 100 had been secured.[13][14] Two months later, Embraer released more details on the pending initial operators for the aircraft.[15] In August 2006, the first order from a customer in Latin America was received.[16]
During October 2006, the American engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney had commenced testing of the PW617-Fturbofan engines intended for the Phenom 100.[17] In March 2007, development of the aircraft was reportedly proceeding to schedule,[18] Embraer took delivery of the first PW617-F engines that same month.[19] The following April, the mating between the wing and fuselage of the first aircraft occurred as its assembly neared completion.[20][21] In June 2007, the prototype was officially rolled out and ground testing of the aircraft commenced shortly thereafter.[22][23]
On 26 July 2007, the prototype Phenom 100 performed its maiden flight from the company's facility in São José dos Campos, Brazil.[1][24] Two weeks later, it was transferred to Gaviao Peixoto, where the majority of the flight test programme was conducted.[25] In March 2008, it was announced that serial production of the aircraft would commence in the following month.[26] During flight testing, issues with the aircraft's ice protection system and flaps were uncovered.[27] During December 2008, the Phenom 100 was awarded its type certificate by both Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority and the United States' Federal Aviation Administration.[28][29] The aircraft is certified as the EMB-500.[30] The first Phenom 100 delivery took place on 24 December 2008.[31]
Design
Airborne from below, clean configuration, showing its straight wingFront view
The Embraer Phenom 100 is a low wing cantilever monoplane with a T-tail and a retractable tricycle landing gear. It has an oval fuselage with a 7.985 m3 (282ft3) passenger cabin, a 1.47 m-high by 0.74 m-wide (4.5'x2.1') door and 1.2'x1' windows.[32] Its unpressurized cargo hold is 1.56 m3 (54.9ft3).[33] Its structural life is 28,000 flight cycles or 35,000 hours, and it is built of 20% composite materials.[33][34] Although the Phenom 100 has capacity for four passengers in its normal configuration, it can carry up to seven passengers with a single crew, with an optional side-facing seat and belted toilet.[35] The cabin interior is designed by BMW DesignworksUSA.[36]
The aircraft is powered by a pair of rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617-Fturbofan engines, each rated to generate a takeoff thrust of 7.2kN (1,695lb) at ISA+10°C. These engines have dual full authority digital engine controls (FADEC). In the event of a single engine failure during takeoff, an automatic performance reserve (APR) function augments engine output to 1,777lb.[37][38] Later model PW 617 F–E models have a ten-minute thrust rating at 1,820lb.[39] To reduce operator costs, condition-based maintenance practices have been explored in addition to traditional scheduled routines.[40] The Phenom 100 has a maximum flying range of 1,178nmi (2,182km; 1,356mi) with four occupants and NBAA IFR Reserves.[41]
Initial production variant, marketing name for the EMB-500 with G1000 Avionics and two PW617F-E engines.[42]
Phenom 100E
Updated variant including multifunction spoilers.[43] Marketing name for the EMB-500 with G1000 avionics and PW617F-E engines and spoiler panels.[42]
Phenom 100EV Evolution
Weight savings and thrust increase from 1,695lb to 1,730lb shortening time to climb to 41,000ft from 33min to 25min and reducing takeoff distance at high-altitude and high-temperature airports from 6,609ft to 5,663ft, Garmin G3000 touch-screen flightdeck at a $4.495 million list price.[44] It was first delivered on 31 March 2017.[45] Marketing name for the EMB-500 with G3000 avionics and PW617F1-E engines.[42]
Phenom 100EX
Updated in 2023 with cabin and avionics improvements including runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS).[46]
U-100
Brazilian military designation for two Phenom 100EVs.[47]
Phenom T1
United Kingdom military designation for Phenom 100s operated by the Royal Air Force.[48]
The Phenom 100 has been operated by a variety of different users, including private individuals, companies, fractionals, charter operators, aircraft management companies, and military operators.
Royal Air Force – Operated as part of the UK Military Flying Training System. On 2 February 2016 the UK Ministry of Defence signed a contract KBR-Elbit Systems for the procurement and support of five Embraer Phenom 100 jets to train Royal Air Force and Royal Navy air crew until 2033.[51]
State
The Texas Department of Transportation operates a fleet of four.[52]
Deliveries
Embraer was originally planning to deliver 15 Phenom 100s during 2008 and 120–150 aircraft in 2009, however, the company would actually deliver only two aircraft in 2008 and had to reduce its 2009 plan to 97 aircraft. By late 2014, Embraer reportedly had roughly 30 orders outstanding for the aircraft.[53]
In mid-2008, it was announced that a new Phenom assembly line would be established in Melbourne, Florida to serve the North American market.[54] It was subsequently announced that all final assembly work would be transferred to the Florida facility from July 2016; it is reportedly capable of assembling up to 96 Phenoms and 72 Embraer Legacy 450/Embraer Legacy 500 annually.[55] More than 170 Phenom jets have been produced at the site until June 2016, mainly for the US market.[56] The company had two production lines for the Phenom 100EV, the other in Brazil.[42] By November 2016, Brazilian production was on trace to be entirely replaced by the Melbourne line.[57]
The Phenom 100 was involved in nine hull losses, including a single fatal accident.[60]
On 8 December 2014, a Phenom 100 with tail number N100EQ crashed into a suburban home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, while on approach to the runway at Montgomery County Airpark. Six people were killed; all three on board the plane, and three more in the home on the ground. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation have concluded that the probable cause of the accident was a pilot's misconduct related to not turning the deice system and inappropriate landing performance speeds for the weather conditions and airplane weight. They recommended the development of a system that can automatically alert pilots when the ice protection should be activated on turbofan airplanes that are certified for single-pilot operation.[61]
↑ "Embraer Phenom 100 Pilot Report"(PDF). Business & Commercial Aviation. Aviation Week. October 2008. Archived(PDF) from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
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