Well, folks, if you wanted to be the proud pilot who took home the stunning Embraer Phenom 300E gracing the June + July cover of Flying, you’re officially out of luck. Embraer Executive Jets delivered this very airplane—the first of the latest Phenom 300Es, with the sleek Bossa Nova interior and upgraded avionics package—to customer Joe Howley, president and co-founder of Patient Airlift Services (PALS). PALS provides transportation donated by pilots and aircraft owners for patients and veterans undergoing treatment.
“I can get places in less time, above the weather and in a really well-pressurized airplane,” said Howley in an interview with Flying. He’s stepping up from his latest airplane, a Pilatus PC-12—a type in which he has 3,500 hours. “The mission of the 300 is a little different than that of the PC-12,” he said, allowing for cross-country flights at a lower cabin altitude. The improved environment inside the Phenom translates to a better experience for the patients Howley transports via PALS—and he already has flown a couple of missions in the new airplane, with more scheduled in November. “This underscores how important aviation can be to save lives.”
The news came along with Embraer’s third quarter deliveries report, which noted an uptick from previous periods in 2020. A total of 28 jets went out the door, with 21 of those represented by the company’s Executive Jets division. In addition to the 300E Bossa Nova delivery, 15 additional Phenom 300s and 3 Phenom 100s went to customers, along with 2 Praetor 500s. On the commercial side of the house, 6 Embraer 175s and one Embraer 190 delivered, and Helvetic Airways signed a commitment to convert four of their remaining firm orders to the E195-E2 platform.
