Plane Conversations

A January 17 press release from Embraer announces that Embraer delivered 100 Phenom deliveries in 2010 making it number one in most deliveries. That’s pretty impressive for a new aircraft that was only certified at the end of 2008, and especially taking into consideration the economy.

An excerpt from the press release:

One hundred aircraft delivered: more than any other business jet in the world.

São José dos Campos, January 17, 2011 – Embraer’s Phenom 100 entry-level executive jet was number one, with 100 deliveries in 2010. Together with the other airplanes of Embraer Executive Jets’ portfolio, the Phenom 100’s success is also reflected in the Company’s increasing market share, which is the fastest growing in business aviation in terms of units delivered.

“Its clean-sheet design, superior cabin comfort, amazing performance, low operating cost, as well as the jet’s great looks, have thrilled our customers,” said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. “We are honored and thankful to our customers for their choice and confidence in the Phenom program and in the Embraer brand.”

Our delivery group at JetQuik, led by Bill Minkoff, has delivered 16 Phenom 100 and  2 Phenom 300 aircraft to customers in the US and Europe since October 2009. The acceptance and deliver process gets smoother with each delivery. Embraer is building great aircraft.

We are proud to be managing and operating two Phenom 100’s in charter service. They have gained good market acceptance with our charter passengers and are proving themselves as they get time in service.

Congratulations to Embraer for making a great entry level business jet.  I look forward to seeing the Legacy 450 and 500 aircraft when they reach certification and production.

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This week Mark Stear, JetQuik’s Director of Executive Jets and I, had the pleasure of accepting two Embraer Phenom 300 jets on behalf of two corporate clients.  Both of these airplanes scored beyond our exceedingly high expectations for Embraer’s workmanship.

The end of the year saw clients push as much as Embraer to finalize aircraft for delivery.  Many of the year end completions were Phenom 300’s, although one customer (lets call them QD) took five Phenom 100’s in the last two weeks of the year.  Much of the credit for completions is attributed to the Embraer delivery staff who were forced to move from building 300 to building 50 in Sao Jose, just to have enough room to meet with customers.  Most of the staff worked tirelessly during Christmas week to ensure these deliveries were made before year end.

JetQuik’s last two acceptances of the year went to widely diverse geographical locales, emphasizing the global acceptance of the Phenom family. The first aircraft, (serial number 42) was delivered to a Boston based company with a very experienced flight department.  Currently flying a G-IVSP and three Challenger 300’s, this flight department was pleased to receive the Phenom 300 as a welcome addition to the fleet.  The 300 will fill the role of East Coast high density short hall.  But with a range of over 1900 NM, this airplane is capable of the occasional trip out west.  The Director of Aviation for this global company remarked how thoroughly pleased he was with the quality of the workmanship and the attention to detail placed on fit and finish. He kept remarking, “The paint, the paint.”  This is a fellow who has been around for a long time, accepting many aircraft over the years.

The second acceptance was for a company based in Saudi Arabia.  Like the first, it too is a global company with a substantial aviation department and a long history of using corporate aviation to build the company.  This company, like many Embraer customers sees intense value in the aircraft just completed.  The attractiveness of the Phenom for the Middle-East includes long legs and reliability. 

Although Embraer is building a service center in Dubai, the customer noted that reliability was the key in aircraft selection as supporting it from afar would require a “very high level of dispatch reliability”.

It has become apparent that flight departments looking to upgrade equipment and technology are increasingly looking at the Embraer family of Executive Jets.  All consider aircraft acquisition as a major investment.  The most common comment I hear from senior flight operations personnel is that they are mandated to reduce operational costs, and as one high ranking aviator remarked, “look at the fuel flows of this airplane. I know of  APUs that burn more….”   Of course he was joking, or was he.

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On a  recent Lineage 1000 demonstration flight tour in the United States, Embraer Executive Jets Regional Sales Manager Cameron Gowans invited me to experience this aircraft firsthand by riding along on a repositioning flight from Dallas to Chicago.  In spite of the fact that I grew up in business aviation, I have never before had the opportunity to ride on an aircraft of this caliber.  And, I can tell you that it took some time for me to get over the “Wow!” factor.  

Approaching the aircraft, you believe are about to board an airliner which, in fact, you are. Built on the E190 series airliner, but with additional fuel for long-range flights, the Lineage 1000 is Embraer’s top of the line executive jet. The size of the aircraft is really closer to an Airbus 318 than any corporate jet made and, in airline configuration, it carries 94-112 passengers. For the Lineage 1000, Embraer advertises over 25 different cabin modules that allow you to customize the aircraft to fit your mission requirements.  The aircraft I flew in is configured with a beautiful executive interior that seats up to 19 passengers.

On our short, two-hour flight, I got the full tour of the five distinct cabin zones, including the aft-most zone containing a bedroom with private bathroom and stand-up shower.  The 19 passenger configuration could easily accommodate all of those passengers with no one feeling at all crowded. There is also plenty of baggage space for a full load of passengers and the baggage area is accessible from the cabin.

The design of the cabin makes for a more pleasurable passenger experience by controlling both noise and pressurization.  In both take-off and cruise, the cabin was quiet enough to carry on a normal conversation with fellow travelers.  And, at a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet, the cabin altitude is 7000 feet which reduces travel fatigue over aircraft with lower pressurization differentials. 

As far as cabin size, this aircraft falls between the Boeing BBJ / Airbus 318 and the Gulfstream G550/ Global Express. While the Lineage 1000 is comparable to the G550 in purchase price, in terms of cubic volume in the cabin, the Lineage 1000 has more than twice that of the G550. However, with a non-stop range of 4200 nautical miles, the Lineage 1000 does not match the 6750 nautical mile range of the Gulfstream G550.  So, while you can go non-stop from Chicago to London, London to Dubai or Dubai to Beijing on the Lineage, a trip from Chicago to Tokyo would require a refueling stop.  The question then becomes: are you willing to trade cabin size and comfort for increased range?  Since the typical missions for many companies never need the full range of the aircraft, the question may not need to be asked.  And, given my experience in the cabin, even if you do have to make a fuel stop in the Lineage, you would not feel the need to depart the aircraft.  Sitting in the cabin feels much more like being in a high end condominium than in an aircraft.   

The aircraft is state of the art design with fly by wire controls and the latest in avionics technology. It is built on an airframe designed for the rigors, reliability and economic  requirements of airline service; so, maintenance reliability should be excellent and should continue to improve as the E190 series accumulate fleet time in airline service.

Entering the cabin, you get the feel of being in an aircraft that could easily be the transportation for a head of state or an executive for a large multi-national company.  For governments, companies and high net worth individuals with international travel requirements who are looking for mission capable executive transport, this aircraft will fit a niche in the market.

Hats off to Embraer for continuing to innovate and bring new solutions for executive transport to the market.

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Last weekend I was in Chicago as a guest of Apex Brasil  to attend the Peak Anti Freeze and Motor Oil Indy 300 Race. This was the first Indy race I have attended and I hope not the last. Tony Elrod, with ETA Logistics , drove us from the airport to the hotel and promised that I would be hooked on racing after the first event. I have to admit he was right.  

Melanie (my better half) and I arrived in Chicago Friday afternoon in time to get to the hotel downtown and attend a dinner hosted by Apex Brazil at Texas de Brazil Steakhouse Churrascaria. I have been to an authentic Churrascaria in Sao Jose Dos Campos while visiting the Embraer factory. Texas de Brazil has them beat on décor and sizzle but I would give them a tie on the food quality and flavor of the beef.

Apex Brasil (The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) was created by the government of Brazil to promote companies in Brazil to the international market. To promote Brazilian companies here in the US they have become a major sponsor of the Indy Racing Series. They do an excellent job with connecting their businesses through the face to face networking of events like these races.

As a part of their race sponsorship, Apex Brasil is supplying pure ethanol fuel to power the race cars. Brazil is a world leader in the development and production of bio fuels. The major producers of ethanol in Brazil are now working on an aviation fuel to power commercial aircraft. 

Our business connection to Brazil is through Embraer Executive Jets as an operator of two Phenom 100 light jets. We have also delivered 11 aircraft from Brazil to new owners in Europe and the US as a provider of delivery and mentor services.    

Saturday we went to the race track early afternoon for a tour of the pit and garages where the teams were making last minute preparations and going through inspections prior to the race. It is fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes of a major race. Just prior to the race we were able to walk by the cars, out on to the track and watch up close as the drivers were introduced.

I was glued to the seat the entire race, and listened through headphones connected to a scanner to the conversations between drivers and the spotters. What a great way to get into a race by hearing the teams talk as it is happening real time.

Sunday we had the day off and took the Chicago Architectural Foundation  boat tour on the river. The tour lasts 90 minutes and is packed with information about the buildings that make up the skyline in Chicago. Chicago was the first city to have skyscrapers, and is rich with architectural heritage. I would highly recommend this tour as a way to learn about Chicago.

On the way back to the airport, Tony recommended going through the drive through at Portillo’s for an Italian Sausage Sandwich on a French Bread roll with grilled Sweet Peppers and Mozzarella. What a treat and a fun way to end our stay in Chicago.

Thanks Tony for getting us to and from the airport with great conversations and thanks to Apex Brasil for a great weekend.

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Embraer has just wrapped up the Phenom Owners/Operators Conference. The second annual Embraer sponsored event was well attended with many owners and twenty Phenom 100/300 aircraft in attendance.

Held at the Sonnenalp Resort in the fashionable resort of Vail, attendees were welcomed by Scott Kalister, Vice President, Customer Support and Services, USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean – Executive Jets. Backed by an impressive staff turnout the meeting was an informative compilation of areas of interest to both owners and perators.

Edson Carlos Mallaco, Embraer’s worldwide VP of Customer Support and Services, opened the meeting with updates on schedules and deliveries. Through the end of July, Embraer had delivered 76 Phenoms to the US, 49 to Latin and South America and 24 to Europe. The Phenom fleet has accumulated over 20,000 hours in service with the average aircraft logging 18 hours per month. Embraer has not delivered any Phenoms to Asia or China, but several are scheduled for delivery in the near term.

During the presentation, Edson showed a slide depicting the fleet and for the first time I saw an expansion slot marked, ‘ultra long-range aircraft’.  It was positioned below ultra-large cabin Lineage 1000 and just above the large cabin Legacy 650.   While Mallaco would not confirm the rollout date for this elusive addition to the fleet, I believe that Embraer intends to have a prototype flying by 2015, the date by which he exclaimed, “Embraer will be a major player”.

Currently Embraer has a backlog of $15.5 billion USD and with confirmed orders for 40 new large military transporters, that backlog will likely increase. The Phenom product line currently has over 550 firm orders from 44 countries. Mallaco also pledged to grow inventory at Embraer owned and authorized service centers. Spares and inventory currently valued at $39M will grow to $115M by 2015.

Reporting that eight Phenom 300 aircraft have been delivered, Mallaco stated a target of 35 deliveries for the calendar year 2010.  Enhancements for the 300 include cruise speed control, side facing divan and a newly designed in-flight entertainment package. Embraer is also continually enhancing the Phenom line adding synthetic vision, enhanced takeoff criteria, belted toilet and a fifth passenger seat to the 100.  The scheduled retrofit to new seats is just about complete with Embraer certifying a new tourmaline interior to the product line.

Touching briefly on the newest additions to the Legacy line, Mallaco stated that the Legacy 450 and 500 are the only fly-by-wire aircraft priced under $40M.  The Legacy 500 is scheduled for its first flight in the second half of 2011 with certification coming in 2012. So far Embraer has delivered 191 Legacy 600 aircraft in 29 countries. Six Legacy 650 deliveries are scheduled for this year.  The 3900 NM aircraft will be outfitted with Rolls Royce AE 3007 A2 engines.

The ultra large cabin Lineage 1000 will be on display during the upcoming NBAA regional event at the Waukegan Airport just outside of Chicago on August 18. Embraer expects to manufacture a total of seven units of the 4,500 nautical mile airplane this year with five already delivered.

Luis Antonio Colarino, Manager of Phenom Customer Support Worldwide gave an indepth Phenom program update and welcomed questions from attendees on the Phenom retrofit campaign, as well as parts availability. Also on hand to answer questions were representatives of Garmin, manufacturer of the Prodigy Flight Deck as well as Pratt & Whitney manufacturer of the engines used on the Phenom jets.

The meeting concluded with a memorable dinner at the SaddleRidge Restaurant at Beaver Creek. Embraer declares that it will be “a major player” in the business jet market by 2015.  The just concluded event in Vail has convinced me that it will be much sooner.

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Recently I read an article about a Phenom 100 delivery from Brazil to Orleans, France.  Unfortunately for the new owner the delivery flight took over two weeks to complete.  It seems that he tried a “do-it-yourself” delivery and suffered the consequence of lack of experience. This and other missteps during deliveries may be avoided with prior planning.

One of more common mistakes I see during deliveries is the failure of  Non-US citizens to obtain a visa prior to entry into the US.  The United States requires visitors from certain countries to obtain a visa for entry.  Usually most arrivals by air enter into the US through the Visa Waiver Program, but such is not the case with private air.  Be sure and check the State Department website for requirements that may affect your entry status.

When JetQuik brings a new Embraer Executive Jet into the US, we plan with a bonded customs broker to ensure a smooth importation process.  For foreign aircraft entering the US for the first time, importation is not necessary and the arrival is treated just like any other customs border crossing.  Usually JetQuik imports aircraft through Ft. Lauderdale.   We use SheltAir as our FBO of preference because it is co-located with US Customs on the field.

Phenom deliveries to the US don’t have to be a daunting process.  The Embraer Executive Jets office can help guide you through the process or recommend a competent delivery organization to relieve the stress of accepting your new Phenom aircraft.

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Reporting from Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, Embraer Factory

I am visiting Embraer in Brazil for the acceptance and delivery of a Phenom 100, Embraer Executive Jet. 

Serial Number 146 is poised on the floor of Hangar 300 ready for delivery to an owner in the United Kingdom.  This EMB-500 will be managed by London Executive Aviation and will initially be based at Stansted Airport about 25 miles northeast of London City.  

Although JetQuik accepts and delivers aircraft for customers around the world, the acceptance of this Phenom was accomplished by Dan Pope, an engineer from LEA.

Joining me in the delivery process is Neil Onions, a thirty-year aviation veteran and Head of Training for LEA.  Neil cut his teeth as an air traffic control engineer initially working in the Shetland Islands, and subsequently all over the UK.  He now lives in the Essex countryside among the ancient oaks, but near enough to The Butcher’s Arms to enjoy an occasional pint of bitters.

Patrick Margetson-Rushmore and George Galanopoulos, principals of LEA operate over 20 aircraft in charter and the Phenom 100 will be the 8th type joining their fleet.   As President of JetQuik I have had the pleasure of joining Patrick for several meetings both in England and Spain, where we have advocated for Executive Jet travel and for improvements in the world-wide air charter community.   Although this is the first Phenom 100 to join the LEA fleet, I am confident that more will be forthcoming.

Also growing their fleet is Corporate Flight Management in Smyrna and Nashville, Tennessee, now managing two Embraer Phenom 100s with plans to continually expand the fleet of Embraer Executive Jets.  Allen Howell, Chairman of CFM notes that they are “marvelously efficient aircraft that fulfill the need for light jets in our (CFM’s) fleet”.   Allen Howell also noted that, “Corporate Flight Management  has completed factory approved training for Phenom mechanics who help to ensure the high dispatch reliability of the Phenom 100.”

Here in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, the hangar 300 delivery facility is buzzing with activity. As I look out into the hangar from my delivery office, I see EMB 190s destined for Tianjin Airlines, TACA and jetBlue.  Out on Runway 15, an Air France by Regional EMB 170 just departed for Paris. 

The airliners in Hangar 300  are joined by six Phenom 100s and two Phenom 300s slated for delivery this week.  Much of the credit for the popularity of the Embraer Executive Jet family is due to the airline heritage that they share.  Built to airliner standards, the Phenom jets are rugged and dependable, fun to fly, and great to look at.   The latest Phenom 300 here in the hangar is a stellar example of clean sheet design and a perfect mix of beauty and practicality.

Tomorrow we begin our trip to London.  I hope that you will follow our progress as we “adventure our way” up through the Americas and over to Europe.

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