Embraer’s first four- to six-passenger $2.75 million Phenom 100 jet, announced in May 2005, is headed for final assembly. Production and design planning of Phenom jets are entirely digital, allowing for pre-production parts manufacturing forecasts (“virtual” production) and a smooth production process, according to Embraer. The second Phenom very light jet is already in the initial assembly process. Two plants, both located in Botucatu, Brazil, are being upgraded and expanded by 95,800 sq ft to provide facilities for subassembly lines of the Phenom 100 and derivative Phenom 300 light jet. Installation of the VLJs two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW617 engines is expected this month. First flight for the 100 is planned for the summer, with the twinjet entering service by mid-2008. The Phenom 300 light jet development track follows one year behind on both counts. Last year, Embraer announced it had more than 340 orders for the Phenom 100 and 300 combined and projected delivery of 2,715 of its light jets between 2008 and 2016.
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