Embraer's Phenom 100 aircraft has completed the Joint Definition Phase of its development as a very light jet.

A multidisciplinary team, including more than 300 Embraer engineers in collaboration with suppliers co-located at corporate headquarters, finalised the Phenom 100 product definition and met with the authorities to agree on methods for fulfilling certification requirements.

The team completed the preliminary design review and developed a mock-up of the aircraft using CATIA V5 engineering software, to provide a platform for engineers to complete structural and aerodynamic analyses, design production planning through digital manufacturing, and determine assembly logistics.

The manufacturing processes and tooling established for the prototype will be honed for use in the production line, Embraer said.

During the JDP, Embraer convened pilots and aircraft owners from the US, Europe and Latin America at its headquarters in Brazil to evaluate the man-machine interface of the aircraft.

The advisory board validated all the Phenom aircraft systems and provided feedback on the architecture, design, functionality and visual representation of instruments on the Prodigy flight deck.

"Based on feedback from the man-machine interface advisory board, Embraer is confident that the 'quiet and dark' design concept of the Phenom's flight deck and its cutting edge technology will deliver superior situational awareness and intuitive single-pilot operation," said Hermann Ponte e Silva, vp of programmes for executive aviation.

The Phenom 100 aircraft is now in the detailed design and certification phase. BMW Group DesignworksUSA created the interior design of the aircraft, which will be powered by PW617F engines from Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Garmin will supply the avionics for the flight deck and Eaton Aerospace will provide hydraulics, flap actuators, thrust control, landing gear control lever and landing gear hydraulic components.

Embraer states that the Phenom 100 will comfortably carry four passengers in a typical club seat configuration. Its range will be 1,160 nautical miles and the aircraft will have a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.7.

It is designed for short field takeoff and will be capable of flying at 41,000 feet. Onboard conveniences include a wardrobe or refreshment centre, an aft cabin private lavatory with toiletry cabinet, and satellite comm-unications. Priced at $2.75 million, the aircraft is expected to enter service in mid-2008.

The light jet version, the Phenom 300, is designed to carry up to nine people and will have a 1,800 nautical mile range and fly up 45,000 feet. It is scheduled to enter service in mid-2009.