Embraer has unveiled a series of cabin enhancements for its Praetor 500 midsize and Praetor 600 super-midsize business jets. In addition to a low cabin altitude (5,800 ft) and 100 per cent fresh air capability, Embraer is now making the HEPA filter standard on all Praetor aircraft, announcing the certification of a new electric lavatory pocket door and approving the use of MicroShield360.

“The Praetors truly lead the way as the most disruptive and technologically advanced aircraft in their respective categories for features such as the best-in-class environmental control systems and cabin altitude. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incorporation of new health and safety technologies is paramount, which is why we are proud to deliver even more value to Praetor customers with this series of cabin enhancements,” says Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. “Furthermore, with the certification of the new electric lavatory pocket door, the Praetors combine the cleanest cabin environment and compliance with the most stringent operational requirements, such as Part 135.”

As new-generation aircraft, the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 were designed with the latest technologies, including the ability to move 100 per cent fresh air through the cabin. Now standard, the HEPA filter further improves cabin air quality, capturing 99.97 per cent of all particles, such as bacteria, viruses and fungi. Additionally, Embraer has tested and approved the use of MicroShield360, a preventative coating system that, when applied to aircraft interiors, continuously inhibits the growth of microbes on surfaces. A signature feature of the Praetor family, the aircraft enjoy the lowest cabin altitude in their classes. At 45,000 ft, Praetor passengers experience a 5,800 ft cabin altitude, which is designed to be more restful and refreshing for passengers.

To further enhance the atmosphere of safety and cleanliness in the cabin, Embraer has developed an electric lavatory pocket door. Certified by ANAC in early June 2020, and recently validated by EASA and the FAA, the Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 are the only aircraft in the medium cabin segment to have the emergency exit door in the lavatory, while complying with the latest cabin safety requirements. This new optional feature, which allows the passenger the comfort of opening the lavatory door by just pressing a button, is now available for delivery in both new Praetor jets, and is retrofittable on both Praetor and Legacy 450 and 500 models, starting in the fourth quarter of 2020.

The new electric lavatory pocket door allows all Praetor aircraft to have the emergency exit in the lavatory, even those under FAA Part 135 operations. By moving the emergency exit to the lavatory, the cabin is further enhanced with a recognisably clean, quiet and functional aesthetic, featuring minimised placards, temperature management and noise reduction, thanks to the lack of an exit door cutout, plus full seat and table functionality.

Today, the Praetor platform, which is based on the Legacy 450/500, has over 160 aircraft in operation and more than 180,000 flight hours to its name.