Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer’s senior vice–president, executive aviation, has been a major force in driving new products through the company. This EBACE sees the launch of the new super mid-size Lineage, announcements of further developments to the Phenom programmes and updates to the Legacy 600 and customer service and support packages.
Should Affonso ever find time to learn to fly the Phenom, Embraer has outlined how he and others could go about it.
The company has addressed concerns over very-light-jet pilot proficiency by providing a type-rating training package alongside its jet sales. Affonso remains tight-lipped about the training provider, but expect an announcement later this year.
Pilots will be invited to an authorised training centre and screened for their ability to fly twin jets. They undertake a preliminary flight-skills assessment, with three possible attainable proficiency levels that will dictate the level of training required. Should pilots fail to reach the required standard, they are sent to flight school for further. They also have the chance to contest the assessment.
Achieving levels one to three puts trainees on to a pre-training package jet-transition study course, staged in modules with web- based continuous training via internet and CD. They must also attend ground school, which offers practical evaluations at the end of each study period, including cockpit procedures and systems and scenario- based training. A pilot's performance is then practically assessed at ground school. New pilots then fly with a mentor pilot in a full-flight simulator (FFS) and finally, ideally, fly home in their aircraft.
The training centres will roll out in Europe and the USA. The FFS will be available as the Phenom 100 enters service.
Source: Flight Daily News
