Praetor 600 business jet. Photo, courtesy of Embraer.
Embraer unveiled its new mid- and super-mid-size business jets, the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600, for the first time publicly at the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) 2018 annual conference and exhibition Oct. 14.
The Praetor 500 will feature a range of 3,250 nm, and Embraer is targeting entry into service for the smaller of the two jets by the third quarter of 2019. Praetor 600 has a range of 3,900 nm, with a projected entry into service date occurring by the second quarter of 2019.
Embraer Executive Jets President and CEO Michael Amalfitano said the Brazilian manufacturer currently has two Praetor 600 prototypes in flight tests, as well as one production-conforming aircraft and one production-conforming Praetor 500 in its maturity campaign.
Both airframes will feature the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics, and Ka-band connectivity from ViaSat.
“You have to have a future state avionics platform,” Amalfitano said during a press conference about the new jets Oct. 15.
The Pro Line Fusion package on the new aircraft includes a pilot-selectable display format on four 15-inch diagonal LCDs that allow the flight crew to view a wide range of information such as flight-critical data, synoptic diagrams of aircraft information, and navigational charts. Praetor cockpits will also feature two flight management systems (FMS) with wide area augmentation system localizer precision vertical (WAAS/LPV) and required navigation performance (RNP) capabilities.
Praetor 500/600 cockpit. Photo, courtesy of Embraer.
Jeppesen charts and maps as well as an inertial reference system (IRS) and a synthetic vision guidance system are also featured on the Praetors. Embraer is also featuring an option to upgrade to a head-up display (HUD) and an enhanced video system (EVS).
“The extension of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics systems onto Praetor 500 and 600 aircraft enabled exciting upgrades for not only Embraer’s newest executive jet offerings but also the existing Legacy 450 and 500 aircraft,” said Christophe Blanc, VP and general manager of business and regional systems for Rockwell Collins.
The Praetor jets will be powered by Honeywell’s HTF 7500E turbofan engines, and will feature Honeywell’s Ovation cabin management system.
Embraer introduced the two aircraft as the next generation versions of its Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 jets.