Embraer has reaffirmed that it will complete certification for the Phenom 100 very light jet by the end of September. First delivery to a customer is also on track for November, but the manufacturer acknowledges it must overcome two "pacing items".
Embraer has completed 1,100h out of a 1,200h flight-test phase for the Phenom 100. US Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness auditors are due to fly the aircraft next week to validate the flight test data, says Claudio Galdo Camelier, Embraer vice-president of market intelligence for executive jets.
Another 600 flight hours to demonstrate airborne maturity also must be completed before first delivery in November. Embraer has fully assembled four Phenom 100s, with another five airframes in final assembly at the factory in Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil.
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Meanwhile, the airframer still must resolve two issues within the next two months to achieve its delivery date.
The first issue is completing the validation requirements for software that controls the Eaton-supplied flap actuators. All of the flap system software has been delivered and installed, Embraer says. The challenge is simply to complete the paperwork required for certification.
Secondly, Embraer is also rushing to certificate seats for passengers and flightcrew after switching venders very late in the development programme. Five months ago, Embraer determined the original supplier would not be able to meet its delivery schedule. Instead, Goodrich was selected to provide the cabin seats and Decrane was chosen to supply seats for the cabin.
The Phenom 100/300 family has amassed more than 800 orders before the first aircraft is delivered. The Phenom 300 entered flight testing on 7 August and is due for first delivery in the second half of 2009. Two flight-test aircraft have been completed. The third airframe is in final assembly and the wings and fuselage for the fourth aircraft are being assembled at Botucatu, Brazil.
Embraer has committed to deliver between 10 and 15 Phenom 100s by the end of this year. Production ramps up significantly in 2009 to between 120 and 150 of both types of aircraft.
Separately, Camelier also reports that Embraer has revised its 10-year market outlook for world business jets sales. New data indicates that projected sales will increase slightly over the period, mainly in emerging markets but also at a slower rate in North America.
Source: Flight International
