Embraer Phenom 300

Embraer Phenom 300
The Embraer EMB-505 Phenom 300 is a light business jet designed and produced by the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. Certified for single-pilot operations, it can carry up to 11 occupants.
Work on the Phenom 300 started in response to customer demands for a larger private jet than the Phenom 100; while the design team originally intended for the aircraft to be a straightforward stretched derivative of the Phenom 100, a clean sheet approach was later adopted. The Phenom 300 featured more powerful engines, the addition of spoiler and winglets, along with an elongated cabin to accommodate more passengers. Several features, from its cabin and interior design to its landing gear and structure, can be traced back to the Phenom 100.
The prototype Phenom 300 conducted its maiden flight on 29 April 2008, type certification was received on 3 December 2009, permitting its entry into service that same month. In 2013, the Phenom 300 was the most delivered business jet. During March 2019, Embraer delivered the 500th Phenom 300, claiming more than half of the light jet market share since 2012. On 31 January 2020, Embraer announced that it was implementing a package of upgrades to the Phenom 300. Certification of the improved Phenom 300E was received during March 2020.
Development
During the early 2000s, Embraer was in the process of designing the Phenom 100 light business jet; while conducting market research, it was discovered that numerous potential customers were expressing a desire for a enlarged model of the aircraft. Accordingly, in 2004, it was decided to produce a derivative of the Phenom 100, which the company designated as the Phenom 300. Initial design work was focused on a straightforward scaling up of the Phenom 100, however, Embraer later concluded that a "clean sheet" approach was necessary, leading to the adoption of more powerful engines, spoiler-equipped swept wings, and detachable aluminium winglets. Various features from the Phenom 100 were transferred across, such as its relatively long structural life, an all-composite T-tail, trailing-link landing gear, fly-by-wire brakes, the Prodigy avionics suite, a cabin and cockpit interior designed by BMW DesignWorksUSA.
On 29 April 2008, the prototype Phenom 300 conducted its maiden flight, flown by John Sevalho Corção and Embraer's chief pilot Eduardo Alves Meni; this flight took place several months ahead of the original development schedule. On its second flight, made on 6 May, the prototype was flown from Gavião Peixoto to Embraer’s headquarters at São José dos Campos for further evaluation. A total of three Phenom 300s flew roughly 1,400 hours in support of the certification programme. On 3 December 2009, the Phenom 300 received its type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On 29 December 2009, Embraer delivered the first Phenom 300 to Executive Flight Services at the company's headquarters at São José dos Campos, Brazil.
On 31 January 2020, Embraer announced that it was implementing a package of upgrades to the Phenom 300; resulting changes included the maximum speed being increased from Mach 0.78 to 0.80, expanded endurance from , and the rated engine thrust being raised from via the adoption of improved PW535E1 turbofan engines. During March 2020, the Phenom 300E received triple certification from Brazil’s ANAC, the FAA, and EASA. By early 2023, the aircraft's equipped price was .
Design
The Phenom 300 is a twin-engined cantilever monoplane with low-positioned swept wings. It is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E turbofan engines that are mounted at the rear of the fuselage on pylons. The structure, which comprises 18% composite materials, has a rate lifespan of 28,000 flight cycles or 35,000 flight hours; it is considerably stronger than that of the Phenom 100 in part due to the aircraft's higher operating altitude. It was decided not to equip the Phenom 300 with thrust reversers, instead relying on the use of fly-by-wire brakes with anti-skid protection incorporated. It also has retractable tricycle landing gear. Despite the aircraft's increased size, the Phenom 300 is capable of flying out of various smaller commuter airports, such as London City and Telluride Regional Airport.
The cabin can accommodate up to nine passengers along with a two-pilot crew; an additional passenger can be carried when being flown by a single pilot. Optional cabin fittings include rotating seats and a two-person side-facing divan in lieu of the seventh seat in the front. The addition of a galley also comes at the cost of the seat opposite the entry door. Access to the cockpit and cabin is via an airstair on the left-hand side. The Phenom 300 is equipped with an externally serviced private rear lavatory and is outfitted for single-point refueling. For additional comfort, soundproofing is integrated along with the careful designing of various mechanical components to reduce noise generation. It has an unpressurised cargo hold, large enough to hold six pairs of skis (or six golf bags), six roll-on bags, and six laptop bags.
The cockpit of the Phenom 300 is equipped with three Garmin G1000 12in (305mm) liquid crystal displays, comprising a pair of flight displays and a single central multifunction display, along with traditional control yokes for the two pilots. An alphanumeric keypad is used to interact with the flight management system, communications and navigation radios. The aircraft is provisioned a Garmin GFC700 digital three-axis autopilot that has dual-channel "fail passive" functionality with roll, pitch and yaw control as well as automatic pitch trim and Mach trim. To reduce complexity and potential for confusion, mix-mode anti-icing measures were avoided in favour of exclusively using a variable bleed air system to heat both horizontal wings while permitting a safe level of ice to accrete on the vertical stabiliser. Electronic flight bags are available as optional equipment. Later-built examples are equipped with the Prodigy Touch system.
To better accommodate the cruise speed of the Phenom 300, which is noticeably higher than its Phenom 100 predecessor, a movable horizontal stabiliser in a T-tail configuration was adopted. Pilots are able to set different trim positions for this movable tail to best suit take-off and cruise profiles, decreasing the amount of take-off "pull" needed to displace the elevator via the conventional cable and pulley controls, which are also used for the ailerons and rudder. Electrical actuation is used for the flaps, trim tabs, and autopilot operations. To mitigate the aircraft's tendency to Dutch roll, a rudder on the ventral fin acts as a yaw damper. Various avionics improvements have led to new functionality being added to later-built aircraft, such as predictive wind shear awareness, stabilized approach, emergency descent mode (in event of cabin depressurisation) and an in-house runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS).
Variants
Phenom 300
Original EMB-505 model, produced since 2009.
Phenom 300E
In 2018, Embraer launched an upgraded model of Phenom, featuring a redesigned interior, new avionics suite (Garmin-G3000-based Prodigy Touch), and a Ground Power Mode for the engines.
2020 Phenom 300E
An upgraded Phenom 300E was announced in 2020, featuring upgraded PW535E1 engines, with thrust increased to 3,478 lbf (from 3,360 lbf); maximum speed has increased to Mach 0.80 from 0.78 (464 vs. 446 kn), and range increased from . Avionics improvements include predictive wind shear awareness, stabilized approach, and an Embraer-developed runway overrun awareness and alerting system (ROAAS). In addition, Bossa Nova interior option became available.
2020 Phenom 300MED
A ready-fit medevac configuration was made available in August 2020 for new-build aircraft. This program also allows existing Phenom 300s to be a retrofitted with a medevac interior.
Operators
Deliveries
In 2013, the Phenom 300 was the most delivered business jet, with 60 units. It also led the industry in deliveries in 2014 and 2015.
After July 2016, all Phenom assembly was transferred to the Melbourne, Florida line, which has the capability to assemble 96 Phenoms and 72 Embraer Legacy 450/Embraer Legacy 500s annually. More than 170 Phenom jets had been produced at the site by June 2016, mainly for the US market.
In March 2019, Embraer delivered the 500th Phenom 300, claiming more than half of the light jet market share since 2012; at the time it was being used in over 30 countries and had cumulative carried 2.5 million passengers across 600,000 flights and 800,000 hours. The 600th unit was delivered in May 2021.
Accidents and incidents
As of January 2023, the Phenom 300 has been involved in three hull-loss accidents causing five fatalities.
On 31 July 2015, a Phenom 300, aircraft registration HZ-IBN, crashed into a car park whilst trying to land at Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire. All four persons on board the Saudi-registered private jet died in the crash and subsequent fire.
On 2 January 2023, Phenom 300 N555NR crashed shortly after takeoff on the grounds of Provo Municipal Airport in Utah. The pilot was killed, one passenger was critically injured, and the two other passengers received minor injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Specifications (2020 Phenom 300E)
See also
References
External links
2000s Brazilian business aircraft
Embraer aircraft
T-tail aircraft
Low-wing aircraft
Twinjets
Aircraft first flown in 2008