The first Embraer Legacy 500 for a Middle East customer is currently undergoing its customer acceptance process with the aim of the aircraft being delivered later in this month. Deliveries of the new super-midsize, fly-by-wire business jet began in October to a Brazilian customer, and on the 21st of that month the Legacy 500 received its FAA certification. Embraer is expecting to receive EASA approval next week.

In the meantime, the first Legacy 500 aircrew class completed training with FlightSafety International (Stand 645). The FAA and EASA approved the FSI simulator in St. Louis, Missouri, was in late October, allowing the first course to start training in November. Maintenance technician training is due to begin early next year.

Embraer Executive Jets (Chalet A3) is currently focusing much of its efforts on bringing the Legacy 500 and the smaller 450 to market. The Legacy 450 development aircraft is currently about halfway through its planned 600-hour test/certification flight campaign, and is on schedule to enter service in the middle of next year. As the Legacy 450 employs many of the same systems as used in the Legacy 500, Embraer is able to complete certification with one development airframe.

Both types are to be assembled in the U.S. at Embraer’s Melbourne, Florida, facility, as well as at São José dos Campos in Brazil. The company already has a Phenom 100/300 assembly line and delivery center at Melbourne, and in October broke ground on the 140,000-sq-ft Legacy 450/500 facility, which was approved in August. The first aircraft is due to be delivered from there in 2016. Additional facilities are being added at Melbourne, including a 42,000-sq-ft hangar and 35,000-sq-ft paint shop. In November an engineering and technology center opened at Melbourne.

More Than 800 Jets Delivered To Date

Since it first delivered an aircraft in 2002, Embraer Executive Jets has delivered 803 business jets, achieving its aim of becoming one of the industry’s major players. The Phenom 300 was the most delivered business jet in 2013, and looks set to maintain the position this year, having taken 57 percent of the light jet market. The 200th Phenom 300 was delivered in July this year, and more than 500 Phenom 100/300s have now been handed over in five years.

As the global executive jet market recovers from its 2008 low, Embraer is looking to the Middle East for many future sales. The company predicts that 230 aircraft will be sold in the region over the next 10 years, with a value of $10 billion. While large- and medium-sized aircraft will continue to dominate in the Middle East, Embraer sees an increase in light jet sales at some point in the future.

Currently Embraer has 33 executive jets operating in the region, comprising three Phenom 300s, 20 Legacy 600/650s and 10 Lineage 1000/E-Jet Shuttle aircraft. The fleet is concentrated in Saudi Arabia (two Phenoms, four Legacies and three E-Jet Shuttles) and the UAE (12 Legacies and five Lineages). Support is provided by authorized service centers in Abu Dhabi (Falcon Aviation Services–Legacy/Lineage) and Dubai (ExecuJet Phenom 300/Legacy/Lineage).

Lineage, Legacy and Phenom on Display

On display here at MEBA 2014 are a Lineage 1000E, Legacy 650 and Phenom 300. The Lineage is outfitted with an enhanced interior in a five-zone cabin; and this latest version has new avionics, including Cat IIIa autoland capability. Embraer offers the Lineage 1000E as an outfitted or “green” aircraft, allowing customers to install their own bespoke interiors, if desired.

When the Legacy 450 enters service next year Embraer Executive Jets will have representatives in all business jet categories, barring the ultra long-range segment. The company has no immediate plans to fill that niche, although it is a longer-term goal.

For now Embraer is concentrating on consolidating its market position in the small- to medium sector, while continuing to develop its large offerings, the Legacy 650 and Lineage 1000E. Embraer recognizes that a clean-sheet design would be required to meet the ultra-long-range requirement, and that any aircraft it produces would need some level of differentiation from the competition to warrant the considerable investment in a new aircraft.