FAA Approval the Last Tick in the Box for the Legacy

On the eve of NBAA, the FAA gave Embraer (Booth 5847) the best possible launch for this year's convention, with confirmation that the Legacy business jet has been awarded its final type certification. Legacy deliveries have already begun, but the U.S. approval will allow the Brazilian team to shift into high gear here at the show. A 13-seat VIP-configured Legacy is on display in the static lineup (site 24), while Embraer is able to show clients the aircraft's executive and shuttle configurations at its stand.

Since it was launched with great fanfare at the 2000 Farnborough air show, the Legacy program has moved forward with speed. The aircraft is based on Embraer's ERJ 135 regional jet, and the solid experience gained from this program was leveraged to build a Legacy "proof of concept" aircraft long before the first true "prototype" aircraft took to the air. Even as company chief Maurício Botelho unveiled the Legacy model in London for the first time, his engineers were already working on the pre-prototype aircraft.

The first Legacy proper made its maiden flight on March 31, 2001, and, following the completion of its flight test goals, it was used as a demonstrator aircraft with a proper executive cabin layout. Embraer received Brazilian airworthiness approval from the national authorities there in December 2001, followed by European JAA approval this past July. Then on September 9, Embraer could announce its formal approval by the FAA as the last piece in the paperwork jigsaw.

Priced at just $20 million, the Legacy claims to offer an unbeatable mix of cost and performance-with the largest cabin in its class, a Mach 0.80 cruise, and nonstop range with 10 passengers at the 3,100 nmi mark. The Legacy can fly direct from New York to California, or New York to London, at what Embraer says is "a fraction of the cost of the competition." Its 1,410-square-foot cabin can carry up to 18 passengers in an executive configuration, or 19 as a company shuttle. Today the Legacy order book stands at 164 aircraft, with 73 firm orders and 91 options.