Embraer Phenom 100

Summary

Description

The Embraer EMB-500 Phenom 100 program was officially announced in November 2005. Development had been approved by the company's board earlier that year with the intention of becoming a major provider in the global business jet market. At the NBAA convention in 2005, Embraer displayed a full-scale mock-up of the aircraft. By March 2006, the aircraft's digital definition phase was completed, and Embraer had augmented its sales efforts with several full-sized mockups. Production plans were expanded the following month along with a price increase. By May 2006, Embraer had secured 50 orders for the Phenom 100. Pratt & Whitney commenced testing of the PW617-F turbofan engines in October 2006, and by March 2007, development was reportedly proceeding to schedule. Wing and fuselage mating occurred in April 2007, and in June, the prototype was officially rolled out and ground testing commenced. The prototype Phenom 100 performed its maiden flight on 26 July 2007 from São José dos Campos, Brazil. During flight testing, issues with the aircraft's ice protection system and flaps were uncovered. The Phenom 100 was awarded its type certificate in December 2008 by both Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority and the United States' Federal Aviation Administration. The first delivery took place on 24 December 2008.

The Embraer Phenom 100 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane distinguished by its T-tail configuration and retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft features an oval fuselage, incorporating a passenger cabin with a volume of 7.985 m3 (282 ft3), accessed via a 1.47 m-high by 0.74 m-wide (4.5'x2.1') door, and illuminated by 1.2'x1' windows. A 1.56 m3 (54.9ft3) unpressurized cargo hold offers additional storage. The Phenom 100 is constructed to withstand 28,000 flight cycles or 35,000 flight hours, utilizing composite materials for approximately 20% of its structure. In its standard configuration, the cabin accommodates four passengers, but it can be configured to carry up to seven with a single crew, utilizing an optional side-facing seat and belted toilet. The cabin interior is designed by BMW DesignworksUSA. The aircraft is powered by two rear-mounted Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617-F turbofan engines, each capable of producing 7.2 kN (1,695 lb) of thrust at takeoff under ISA+10 °C conditions. These engines feature dual full authority digital engine controls (FADEC), and in the event of a single engine failure during takeoff, an automatic performance reserve (APR) function increases engine output. Later models use PW 617 F–E engines, with a ten-minute thrust rating at 1,820 lb.

The Phenom 100 sees use across diverse sectors, from private individuals and charter operators to military and state organizations. Emirates utilizes five Phenom 100EV aircraft for cadet training, later extending their use to charter operations in 2023. The Brazilian Air Force operates two Phenom 100EVs, designated U-100, delivered in October 2019. The Pakistan Air Force employs four aircraft for VIP transport. The Royal Air Force operates Phenom 100s as part of the UK Military Flying Training System, with a contract signed in 2016 to train Royal Air Force and Royal Navy aircrew until 2033. The Texas Department of Transportation maintains a fleet of four Phenom 100s.

Main Variants:

• Phenom 100: The initial production variant, known as the EMB-500, features G1000 avionics and two PW617F-E engines.

• Phenom 100E: This updated variant includes multifunction spoilers, while retaining the G1000 avionics and PW617F-E engines of the original.

• Phenom 100EV Evolution: This variant offers weight savings, an increased thrust to 1,730lb, and a Garmin G3000 touch-screen flightdeck.

• Phenom 100EX: This is an updated variant introduced in 2023 with cabin and avionics improvements including runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS).

• Phenom T1: This is the United Kingdom military designation for Phenom 100s operated by the Royal Air Force.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	United Kingdom	5
	Brazil	2 (+2)

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

Brazil • United Kingdom