AirInsight
Thanks for the opportunity to speak with you about Embraer Executive Jets.
Embraer, at NBAA, introduced two new models, the Praetor 500 and 600. How do these two new models enhance Embraer’s market position in the mid-sized and super mid-sized market?
Michael
The Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 strengthen Embraer’s portfolio and position the company at the lead of the midsize and super-midsize segments with unprecedented comfort, technology, and performance.
Both models showcase a six-foot-tall flat-floor cabin with the lowest cabin altitude in their classes – 5,800 ft. Combined with full fly-by-wire technology with active turbulence reduction, an Embraer exclusivity in both classes, each model offers the ultimate passenger comfort. With the highest capacity Ka-band connectivity and industry-leading features, such as stone flooring, a wet galley, and vacuum toilet, these aircraft deliver the absolute best value in each category.
The Praetor 500’s best-in-class range of 3,250 nm (6,019 km) outperforms the segment on corner-to-corner missions on the continental U.S., including Miami to Seattle, and it can fly from Los Angeles to London with just one stop. This is also the fastest midsize jet and it can fly nonstop from Singapore to Beijing or London to Dubai. The aircraft also delivers enviable performance in some of the world’s most challenging airports, such as London City.
The Praetor 600 is disruptive with its best-in-class intercontinental range of 3,900 nm (7,223 km) and unparalleled performance in the world’s most challenging airports. In addition to connecting nonstop Dubai to London, São Paulo to Cape Town or Beijing to Moscow, the Praetor 600 is the only super-midsize jet to consistently deliver nonstop London to New York missions.
AirInsight
The Praetor models derived from the Legacy 450 and 500, but have a substantially higher range capability. What enabled the substantial increase in range?
Michael
The main difference between the Praetor 500/Praetor 600 and the Legacy 450/Legacy 500 are the new winglets, the extra fuel capacity, updated avionics, increased engine thrust for the Praetor 600 and the new range that results from these enhancements.
The Praetor 500 has the same wing tanks as the Praetor 600, delivering more range when compared to the Legacy 450, which has the same wing design but with fuel volume limited by physical modification on the tanks, such as the position of the over-wing gravity refueling ports and high-level sensors.
Although the Praetor 600 and the Legacy 500 have the same wing fuel capacity, the Praetor 600 carries two additional fuel tanks (the forward and ventral tanks). The fuel system and the avionics load were modified to integrate all tanks, enabling fuel transfer from the forward and ventral tanks to the wings.
AirInsight
The Phenom 300 has been the best-selling business jet since its introduction. What improvements have been either introduced or are planned to enable the Phenom 300 to maintain its leadership position?
Michael
Based on extensive customer interaction, Embraer launched—and debuted—the Phenom 300E at the 2017 NBAA-BACE and obtained ANAC, FAA and EASA certification only five months later, delivering the first Phenom 300E to a Phenom 300 customer in March of this year. The new aircraft is designated “E” for “Enhanced” in reference to its entirely redesigned cabin and the addition of the industry-leading nice® HD CMS/IFE (Cabin Management System/InFlight Entertainment) by Lufthansa Technik.
The Phenom 300E inherits the Embraer DNA Design, first introduced in its larger siblings, the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 mid-cabin jets. The application of this design in the Phenom 300E rendered a more spacious cabin with more customization options and ease of maintainability.
Starting with the new Embraer-designed and manufactured seats, the aircraft offers unmatched comfort and personalization in its class. The seat profile, with enhanced headrest, retractable armrest, along with the new table, side ledge, side wall, and valance designs, optimize passenger mobility in the cabin with expanded aisle clearance and increased cabin space.
The new seats in the Phenom 300E feature broader backs for greater support, extendable headrests with bolsters, and extendable leg rests for improved ergonomics. The aircraft’s seats were designed and engineered by Embraer and are being manufactured at Embraer Aero Seating Technologies, in Titusville, Florida.
The Phenom 300E features an industry-exclusive upper technology panel (upper tech panel) along the centerline of the aircraft’s ceiling, significantly improving passenger ergonomics. The innovative upper tech panel presents passengers with pertinent in-flight information while allowing for convenient interaction with cabin management controls, as well as the option of in-flight entertainment with audio and video on demand via two slender swing-down seven-inch displays. The unit also offers an enhanced cabin lighting scheme, with a broad range of ambient mood selections, as well as integrates sleek, silent gaspers enhancing acoustic comfort. Bluetooth connectivity also allows passengers to view in-flight information on their personal devices.
AirInsight
The proposed merger with Boeing, which would take over the regional jet segment, raises questions about the future of the Lineage 1000, which is a derivative of the regional airliner. Will the Lineage 1000 stay in the Embraer business jet fleet, or transition to Boeing Business Jets?
Michael
While the final details of the deal are yet to be defined, the plan is that the Lineage 1000E continue to comprise (part of) the Embraer Executive Jets portfolio.
AirInsight
Embraer prides itself on an innovative culture, and with the two new models introduced at NBAA, has introduced 15 aircraft in the last 15 years, an impressive track record. How is Embraer able to produce new aircraft on time and on budget routinely when other companies typically face delays?
Michael
Embraer invests about 10% of its revenues in innovation, which includes technologies and processes. Over the last five years, these investments have rendered close to 50% of Embraer’s revenues as well as its profits. The passion for excellence of our engineering teams drives our industry leadership in program development and certification. Over our nearly 50-year history, we have designed, developed, manufactured, delivered and serviced over 8,000 aircraft of close to 50 models. About every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.
AirInsight
Looking forward, we’re just now entering the era of big data, and health management systems are being introduced by OEMs and engine manufacturers to help predict failures and unscheduled AOG situations. What service innovations does Embraer Executive Jets offer, and how is Embraer preparing for the implementation of new support initiatives in the era of big data?
Michael
Since our first regional jet, back in 1994, every Embraer jet is equipped with an Onboard Maintenance System (OMS), complementing the MSG-3 (Maintenance Steering Group) low-intervention maintenance philosophy upon which every Embraer aircraft is designed. The OMS gathers a tremendous amount of aircraft systems data that is seamlessly integrated into our Aircraft Health and Diagnosis system (AHEAD), which offers customers maximum foresight of maintenance activities for optimal scheduling.
The Praetor jets’ Fly-By-Wire technology is also a great source of big data that not only justifies our investment in innovation as it provides passengers with the smoothest flight possible through active turbulence reduction, and renders fuel economy with the most efficient flight paths when compared to conventional flight controls.
We are also investing in automating data analysis to be able to provide prescriptive solutions to customers. Our goal is to allow the customer to take the best approach for preventive maintenance based on their own business model and operational characteristics.
AirInsight
Thanks for being with us today.
