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EMB Legacy Upgrades
Embraer’s Legacy super-midsize corporate jet gained its London City Airport 5.5º approach qualification in December last year after a 20-month campaign. It covers wet and dry runway operations, says the company. The Brazilian manufacturer is also working on achieving a high altitude envelope extension for landings and take-offs at 9,500 ft by year-end.
Embraer is currently evaluating various types of enhanced vision systems (EVS) for the Legacy, but won’t yet comment on which it favors, though it allows that CMC Electronics and Kollsman are in the selection frame.
This month the first Legacy incorporating HSD (High Speed Data) wireless broadband Internet will be completed. Initially it will operate at 128 Kbps; future upgrades will increase it to 432 Kbps for multiple users. An integrated electronic flight bag will become available by year-end, along with a new LED cabin interior lighting system.
Thirteen Legacys each were delivered in 2003 and 2004. Between 15 and 20 will be delivered this year, according to Embraer. So far 49 Legacys (including Shuttles and government-operated aircraft) have been delivered to customers in 12 countries, of which some 40% are based in Europe. In the last two years the Legacy’s market share has been constant at 11% , but is ex0pected to rise to 15%, said a company spokesman.
Fractional operator Flight Options’ fleet of seven Legacys are each averaging 130 flight hours per month — far higher than most business jets in this class, Embraer says. —Mike Vines
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