By Lisa Gordon | October 16, 2018 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 30 seconds.
With the launch of its new flagship aircraft, the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600, Embraer Executive Jets is aiming to be “different by design and disruptive by choice.”
So said the company’s president and CEO, Michael Amalfitano, during a press conference at NBAA-BACE on Oct. 15. Amalfitano, fresh off a successful aircraft launch the previous day, said the Praetor pair is destined to be the most technologically advanced midsize and super-midsize jets in their categories.
The Praetor 600, with a range of 3,900 nautical miles, is scheduled for entry into service (EIS) in the second quarter of 2019, with a price tag of US$20.995 million.
“This is an unmatched price point. And even with eight passengers and full fuel, it still goes 3,750 nautical miles,” said Amalfitano.
Achieving a top speed of Mach 0.83, the ocean-spanning Praetor 600 features wing fuselage fairing tanks and offers increased thrust and brand new proprietary winglet technology. The wing tanks allow operators the ability to tanker fuel purchased from their home base for a lesser cost, so they have to buy less fuel elsewhere. Enhanced fly-by-wire capability with active turbulence reduction ensures a more stable flight.
Amalfitano said Embraer has already received some initial orders for the Praetor 600.
The smaller Praetor 500 is a midsize aircraft featuring all of the same technological benefits as its larger sibling. Scheduled for EIS in the third quarter of 2019, the jet carries a price tag of US$16.995 million.
Built for “corner to corner” connections, such as Seattle to Miami, the Praetor 500 has the same high performance winglets and higher capacity fuel tanks, with a range of 3,250 nautical miles.
Positive perspectives
Amalfitano said Embraer Executive Jets sees encouraging signs in the marketplace.
“Positive perspectives are across the entire sector. We see the strength of the economy. There are positive drivers in terms of people are flying, the economy is strong, corporate investments are taking place. These are all positive signs for growth.”
Regionally, North America continues to drive the private jet market, with 65 per cent of sales. Europe comes in second with 20 per cent, followed by “the more challenging markets in Latin America and Asia Pacific.”
Embraer Executive Jets currently has about 1,200 operators flying its products, representing 750 customers in more than 70 countries.
Amalfitano said the company will continued to build the Legacy 450 and 500 business jets–which have the same fuselage diameter as the Praetor 500 and 600, respectively–so the company can offer a broad portfolio of aircraft for its wide variety of customers.
He said both plants in São José dos Campos, Brazil, and Melbourne, Fla., have the capability to host the Praetor production line. Over time, he expects that more work will be transitioned to the U.S., which represents the company’s largest market.
Embraer is displaying both the Praetor 500 and the Praetor 600 at the NBAA-BACE static display this week in Orlando.
