Embraer Legacy 650 Receives FAA Certification

Embraer’s Legacy 650 large-cabin business jet has gained FAA certification, a year and half after the Brazilian manufacturer announced the model as a follow-on the original Legacy 600. Embraer is touting the Legacy 650’s longer range, higher useful load, quieter cabin and Honeywell Primus Elite avionics suite as the major enhancements over its predecessor, which entered service in 2001. Legacy 650 deliveries began last November following Brazilian and European certifications for the twinjet, and seven are now in operation. The $25.9 million Legacy 650 has a maximum range of 3,900 nautical miles with four passengers, and 3,840 nautical miles with eight. The airplane combines the fuselage of the ERJ-135 regional jet with the wing of the ERJ-145. The first two Legacy 650 prototypes flew in September 2009 at Embraer’s flight-test facilities in Gavião Peixoto and São José dos Campos, Brazil. Embraer is also making some Legacy 650 improvements, including the Primus Elite avionics, available to Legacy 600 operators through a retrofit upgrade program.