Embraer engineers have begun the next phase in development of the Legacy 450 midlight and Legacy 500 midsize jets, having completed the joint definition phase.
This phase consisted of finalizing the product definition and working with Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil to establish certification requirements. Now the more than 500 engineers on the 450/500 program are busy planning for the first metal cuts, which will likely involve long lead-time parts for major structural elements of the wing spars and skins, according to Claudio Camelier, Embraer’s vice president of marketing intelligence, executive jets. The next step is releasing engineering drawings for these parts, which should take place in the second half of this year, then cutting metal to make these parts early next year. The Legacy 500 should fly about a year later, in early 2011.
Both the Legacy 500 and 450 remain on track for entry into service in 2012 and 2013 respectively, said Mauricio Almeida, vice president of programs, executive jets.
Last year, Embraer held its first man-machine interface advisory board meeting with customers, and another is planned in mid-July or August to provide feedback on customer suggestions from the earlier meeting and solicit additional input.
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