Brazilian manufacturer Embraer had its Phenom 300 light jet in Sydney this week as part of a demo tour of the country to introduce the new eight-seater to potential customers.
The smaller Phenom 100 toured our shores earlier this year and Embraer also had a cabin mock-up of the 300 on view earlier in 2010.
While the US$4.1 million six-seat Phenom 100 is aimed at single-pilot owner operators, the US$9 million Phenom 300 is more likely to appeal to corporate buyers and high-net-worth individuals. There’s already a 100 based at Bankstown Airport and another is due to be based in Melbourne before the end of the year.
The Phenom 300 has a range of 1971 nautical miles (Sydney-Port Moresby or Wellington) with six on board; while it cruises at 0.78 up to 45,000 feet and can climb with MTOW to that ceiling in 25 minutes. The cabin pressure at altitude is a comfortable 6600 feet, compared to the more conventional 8000 feet in the Phenom 100.
Operational cost is around US$1418 per flight hour, including fuel. For a private owner flying an average 2000 hours over 10 years that amounts to US$2.84 million.
The Phenom cabins were designed by BMW Design Works, but Embraer does the fit out itself. The Phenom 300 features a central maintenance computer which, if paired with the optional satellite phone, can provide remote monitoring via data link.
Execujet is the authorised service provider in Australia; and parts are stored in Singapore and Beijing.
The Brazilian manufacturer says it will deliver around 120 Phenoms this
year, most to the US; but it’s holding 550 firm orders from 44
countries. In 2009 Embraer had a 14 per cent share of the global private jet market, in terms of number of units delivered; and that’s a meteoric rise from small numbers even the previous year, largely driven by the small Phenoms.
Read our recent flight test of the Phenom 100 here.