Embraer Executive Jets has upgraded its entry-level Phenom 100 business jet and the evolved version will take to the skies next year.

Called the Phenom 100 EV, the new jet was unveiled at last week’s EAA Air Venture Fly-In and Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 

Featuring a new avionics suite with the Prodigy Touch flight deck, based on the Garmin G3000, and modified Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F1-E engines, offering more speed with superior hot-and-high performance, the Phenom 100 EV will enter the market in the first half of 2017. 

The aircraft will enjoy dual launch customers, each with unique operating requirements. 

Mexico’s Across, a premium business aviation services provider, will benefit from the aircraft’s hot-and-high performance out of its base at Toluca International Airport (TLC). 

Emirates Flight Training Academy, the new world class training facility due to open later this year set up by Emirates airline of the UAE to address the industry’s growing demand for pilots, recently upgraded its earlier order for five Phenom 100E to Phenom 100EV becoming the first flight training organisation in the world to train cadet pilots using this platform.   

“The Phenom 100 revolutionised the entry-level segment when it set new standards for comfort, performance, and operating costs,” said Marco Tulio Pellegrini, President and CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. “The new Phenom 100 EV will deliver even greater performance and operational capability while preserving its low operating and maintenance costs.”

Across Pedro CEO Corsi Amerlinck said:  “As Mexico’s premier air charter solutions provider, our customers expect a world-class experience. Now, with the addition of the Phenom 100 EV to our fleet, our customers will enjoy the unmatched cabin comfort of Embraer’s oval lite cross section, as well as the largest baggage capacity in the segment, all while flying non-stop routes, such as Toluca to Houston and Toluca to Cancun.” 

Emirates Flight Training Academy, set to open this October, will offer state-of-the-art facilities including a young and modern aircraft fleet for training cadet pilots. Within its enhanced curriculum, cadets will progress from training on single engine piston aircraft to the jet-powered Embraer Phenom 100 EV.  

“We selected the Phenom 100 because we considered it to be the entry-level jet that will offer trainees unmatched systems integration and ease of operation, a high utilization design, low operating costs, airliner-grade performance and docile flying characteristics,” said Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer.  “Our cadets will benefit from next generation technology, speed and thrust for their training missions in the Phenom 100 EV.”

The Phenom 100 is considered an obvious choice by airlines for preparing cadets for multi-engine jet operations, as well as by owner-operators, corporate flight departments and leading fractional providers. As of today, close to 350 Phenom 100 jets are operating in 37 countries.

The Phenom 100 EV features modified Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617F1-E engines, with 1,730 pounds of thrust, reaching a 405 kt as high speed cruise and up to 15% more thrust at hot-and-high airports, which equates to more range and a faster time to climb. The aircraft has a four-occupant range of 1,178 nautical miles (2,182 km), with NBAA IFR reserves.

The pilot-friendly cockpit enables single-pilot operation, with situational awareness enhanced by the advanced man-machine interface of the touchscreen-controlled Prodigy Touch flight deck, based on the Garmin G3000, with larger HD displays, split screen capability, and a new weather radar.

The Phenom 100 EV is the evolution of the roomiest aircraft in its class, bringing interior enhancements, such as a new floor sill, featuring a straight line design to increase the aisle area, and relocated power outlets with USB chargers. The aircraft features eleven interior design collections, abundant natural light from large windows, even in the private rear lavatory, a feature typically only seen in larger aircraft, which is also the case of the refreshment centre, the integrated air stair, and the largest baggage compartment in its class, says Embraer.