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São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, 01/25/2010 – Embraer’s midlight Legacy 450 and midsize Legacy 500 executive jet development programs continue moving full ahead. The concepts were presented at the 2007 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Annual Meeting and Convention, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. The Company maintains its unflagging commitment to developing these aircraft.
The second Man-Machine Interface (MMI) Advisory Board, formed by seasoned pilots and aircraft owners from around the world, was held at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, in the second half of 2009. The majority of the Board’s previous suggestions were implemented in the final projects of the jets, confirming Embraer’s commitment to design aircraft that meet market demands. As a result of one of the suggestions, the Company now offers a broader range of finishing materials. Guided by six different thematic panels, customers can select the interior configuration that best matches their interests, from among millions of possible combinations.
During the MMI meeting, the Audio and Video Cabin Management System (AV/CMS) – Honeywell’s Ovation® Select™ Full Digital, Hi-Definition, Hi-Fidelity, Hi-Speed Cabin Connection Suite – had its graphical user interface tested in a “Voice of Customer” session, which was dedicated to learning the board’s impressions regarding the system’s functionality and appearance.
“As we begin producing the first parts for the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 jets, we are always open to learning from our customers,” said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. “Listening to our customers has been an Embraer trade mark. I believe this is the right attitude to have when designing products that respond to market needs, and are intended to always provide customers with a remarkable ownership experience.”
Various manufacturing processes are in the testing phase. Quality and maturity tests are also being conducted to evaluate the aircraft equipment under critical flight situations, such as vibration and high altitude. Extreme conditions are simulated in advanced testing chambers at supplier and Embraer facilities. This procedure will ensure that certain part designs are already mature when the prototypes begin their test flights.
Embraer steadily advances in the development of avionics and fly-by-wire flight control systems. Rigs are used to simulate the features of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion™ avionics, as well as the aircraft flight control system. Through the use of computational flight simulation, fly-by-wire control laws are tested and verified by pilots and engineers well before any airplane prototype is built.
Production has begun on the Legacy 500’s first parts. The nose and main landing gear forgings arrived at Heroux-Devtek, in Canada and began to be machined. Meggitt performed the first forgings for the wheels and brakes. Belgium’s Sonaca began the first trials for stretching the rear fuselage panels at its facilities in the city of Gosselies. The selection of suppliers continues.
Embraer’s commitment to the environment is built into the design of the Legacy 450 and the Legacy 500. The aircraft will comply with worldwide certification limits for aviation noise and emissions, as established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), and with very significant margins.
The certification process is well underway with Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S., and the European Aviation Safety Association (EASA).
About the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 executive jets
Based on concepts presented in 2007 and formally launched in 2008, the midlight Legacy 450 and midsize Legacy 500 set new paradigms in their respective executive jet categories. Their interiors were designed in partnership with BMW Group DesignworksUSA, and offer unequaled comfort and style. These aircraft will have the largest and quietest cabin in their classes. A flat-floor standup (6-foot) cabin, excellent pressurization, and vacuum lavatories are other highlights of the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500, complementing their superior performance and low operating costs.
The new-generation Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion™ avionics system will provide extensive situational awareness with a highly intuitive interface. Honeywell’s HTF7500E stateof-the-art engines incorporate the latest technologies for meeting performance requirements with improved efficiency, in terms of fuel consumption, facilitated maintenance, low operating costs, and reduced noise and pollution emissions. The jets will be the fastest in their categories and the only ones equipped with cutting-edge fly-by-wire electronic flight controls that increase operating safety and passenger comfort, while reducing pilot workload and fuel consumption.
The Legacy 450 is designed to carry up to nine passengers. Its range will be 2,300 nautical miles (4,260 km) with four passengers, or 2,200 nautical miles (4,070 km) with eight passengers, and Mach 0.78, both including NBAA IFR fuel reserves, meaning the jet will be able to fly nonstop from London (U.K.) to Moscow (Russia) or Rabat (Morocco); from Delhi (India) to Dubai (United Arab Emirates) or Hong Kong; or from Jakarta (Indonesia) to Calcutta (India).
The Legacy 500 will carry up to nine passengers. It is designed for a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,560 km) with four passengers, or 2,800 nautical miles (5,190 km) with eight passengers, and Mach 0.80, both including NBAA IFR fuel reserves. These characteristics will allow customers to fly nonstop from New York to Los Angeles, in the U.S.; or from Moscow (Russia) to Mumbai (India). For more information on Embraer Executive Jets, visit EmbraerExecutiveJets.com/.
Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. - NYSE: ERJ; BM&FBovespa: EMBR3) is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial jets up to 120 seats, and one of Brazil’s leading exporters. Embraer’s headquarters are located in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, and it has offices, industrial operations and customer service facilities in Brazil, China, France, Portugal, Singapore, and the United States. Founded in 1969, the Company designs, develops, manufactures and sells aircraft for the commercial aviation, executive aviation, and defense segments. The Company also provides after sales support and services to customers worldwide. On December 31, 2009, Embraer (embraer.com) had a workforce of 16,853 employees – not counting the employees of its partly owned subsidiaries – and its firm order backlog totaled US$ 16.6 billion.
This document may contain projections, statements and estimates regarding circumstances or events yet to take place. Those projections and estimates are based largely on current expectations, forecasts on future events and financial tendencies that affect Embraer’s businesses. Those estimates are subject to risks, uncertainties and suppositions that include, among others: general economic, political and trade conditions in Brazil and in those markets where Embraer does business; expectations on industry trends; the Company’s investment plans; its capacity to develop and deliver products on the dates previously agreed upon, and existing and future governmental regulations. The words “believe”, “may”, “is able”, “will be able”, “intend”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “expect” and other similar terms are supposed to identify potentialities. Embraer does not feel compelled to publish updates nor to revise any estimates due to new information, future events or any other facts. In view of the inherent risks and uncertainties, such estimates, events and circumstances may not take place. The actual results can therefore differ substantially from those previously published as Embraer expectations.
North America
Christine Manna
E: cmanna[.]embraer.com.
Cell: +1 954 383 9950
T: +1 954 359 3879
F: +1 954 359 4755
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Stéphane Guilbaud
E: sguilbaud[.]embraer.fr.
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T: +33 1 4938 4455
F: +33 1 4938 4456
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Tracy Chen
E: tracy.chen[.]bjs.embraer.com.
Cell: +86 139 1018 2281
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F: +86 10 6598 9986
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Shorbani Roy
E: shorbani.roy[.]sin.embraer.com.
Cell: +65 9794 2401
T: +65 6305 9955
F: +65 6734 8255.
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carlos.camargo[.]embraer.com.br 
