Embraer’s first Lineage 1000 executive jet is making a debut here at the Dubai Airshow, six months after it was delivered to launch customer Aamer Abdul Jalil al Fahim of Abu Dhabi at the EBACE show in Geneva in May. Eight more of the new $42.9 million airliner-class twinjets are set to be delivered to customers in the Middle East–almost half of the 20 orders placed to date.

The Lineage here this week is operated on Al Fahim’s behalf by Abu Dhabi-based Prestige Jet. As of last month, it had logged more than 180 hours–110 hours for the owner and the remainder for third-party charter customers.

Embraer’s regional sales director Colin Steven told AIN that apart from “small and rapidly overcome teething problems,” Embraer’s largest business aircraft already has flown nonstop between the United Arab Republic and Europe several times without any flights being delayed due to technical problems. He claimed that the new Lineage is 15 percent less expensive to operate than its rival Boeing Business Jet.

The Lineage 1000 platform, based on the Brazilian manufacturer’s Embraer 190 regional airliner, is configured to accommodate up to 19 people in a 4,085-cu-ft cabin divided into five distinct zones with up to three lavatories and a stand-up shower. The interior was designed in conjunction with the UK’s Priestman Goode and the completion work was performed by U.S. firm PATS. Optional items include Wi-Fi technology, Internet access and electronic flight bags. A 323-cu-ft aft pressurized baggage compartment is accessible during flight.

The aircraft is equipped with fly-by-wire flight controls, and the two General Electric CF34-10E7-B engines each deliver 18,500 pounds of thrust. Honeywell’s Primus Epic integrated avionics system has five liquid-crystal display multifunctional control screens, cursor control devices, autothrottle and weather radar with turbulence detection.

The Lineage 1000 has a range of 4,400 nm with eight passengers, or 4,500 nm with four passengers, both with NBAA IFR fuel reserves. With a maximum speed of Mach 0.82, the aircraft can fly nonstop between city pairs such as London-Dubai, Dubai-Johannesburg, New York-Moscow and Singapore-Sydney.

The next Middle Eastern Lineage 1000 delivery is set for some time in 2010. Other customers in this part of the world include Abu Dhabi’s Al Jaber Aviation and Falcon Aviation Services and Dubai’s Al Habtoor Group.