Embraer will bring a new Phenom to its lineup on the static display at the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Conference and Expo next week in Las Vegas.
On Monday, it announced the debut of the Phenom 100EX—the latest edition to the light jet segment from the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. The jet has received type certification from the FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and Brazil’s ANAC.
At the company’s customer delivery facilities in Melbourne, Florida, on October 2, FLYING had a preview and a demo flight on the new jet ahead of the show. Primary among the updates I was able to experience in flight were the implementation of Embraer’s runway overrun awareness and avoidance system (ROAAS) as well as upgrades to the interior and cabin layout. The 100EX will be the first in the segment to incorporate the ROAAS, meant to address the incidence of runway overrun accidents.
Also, Flight Stream 510 on board the Phenom 100EX will now allow the pilot to connect their portable devices to the aircraft, an important time saver. Pilots can also download data from the airplane, allowing for thorough and timely analysis. Additional improvements to the Garmin G3000-centric flight deck include automatic 3D volumetric scanning with lightning and hail prediction, stabilized approach protocols, and predictive wind shear.
“We are proud to announce the Phenom 100EX—an aircraft designed to experience excellence with superior comfort and disruptive technology that enhances safety,” said Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. “This product reimagines the entry-level flight experience, offering enhanced comfort, empowering pilots, and enriching journeys to deliver more value to our customers.”
Flight Demo: ROAAS
One item that may not trigger a “wow” until you feel the difference in flight is Embraer took owner-pilot feedback on the relative openness of the cabin to the flight deck and improved it by paring down the divider behind the pilot’s seat. In our demo, I sat in the sideways “jump” seat for the approach and landing and felt much more able to converse with the pilots during that portion of the flight.
That came in especially handy as we hauled down final at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) for the ROAAS trial. The pilots had spoofed the system into thinking we only had 3,000 feet available instead of the 10,181 feet of pavement comprising KMLB’s Runway 9R. The system uses real-time aircraft and weather data to update the length of runway required for the current aircraft state. A series of alerts chime progressively if the runway length doesn’t match what’s needed, prompting the pilot to either fix the problem or go around.
The cabin updates stem from Embraer’s “Design DNA,” with improved seat design, new upper tech panels for cabin controls, and use of sustainable materials throughout. Also, the pilot’s seat now has additional seat tracking for better legroom and easier ingress and egress from the left seat. Flush-to-the-wall tables maximize workspace, and thoughtfully detailed passenger amenities complete the updated experience.
Embraer has sold out of its 2024 positions on the Phenom 100EX, with deliveries available in 2025. Base price has been held to $4.995 million, with the new features a combination of standard equipment and options.
