Embraer Executive Jets delivered the first of up to 125 “Signature Series” Phenom 300s to NetJets during a ceremony on May 1 at the aircraft manufacturer’s Phenom assembly facility in Melbourne, Florida. In October 2010 NetJets placed a firm order for 50 of the specially outfitted light jets, with options for 75 more. Including all options, the order is worth more than $1 billion.

NetJets will take delivery of about two Phenom 300s per month and expects to have 18 of the Embraer twinjets in its fleet by year-end. While these new light jets will enter the fractional provider’s fleet in the U.S., it’s possible that they could also find their way into the NetJets Europe fleet. “We’re still deciding what to do with the Phenoms with respect to Europe,” NetJets CEO Jordan Hansell told AIN at the delivery ceremony. “We anticipate making some decision before EBACE about what the Phenom 300’s future looks like in Europe” for NetJets, he added.

All of the Phenoms delivered to NetJets this year will be manufactured and outfitted in Brazil, but starting next year the jets will be assembled and outfitted at the Melbourne facility. Regardless of assembly origin, NetJets will take formal delivery of its new Phenoms in Melbourne.

Notably, the NetJets Phenom 300 is the first to include the recently certified Prodigy Touch Flight Deck, which is based on the Garmin G3000 suite and provides enhanced pilot interface and situational awareness. This flight deck is now an optional upgrade from the G1000 system for factory-new Phenom 300s, Embraer said. NetJets’ Signature Series Phenom 300 also has cabin features that were developed exclusively for NetJets to meet specific operating requirements and customers’ needs.