Embraer Praetor 500 Business Jet

Praetor 500 is a technologically disruptive and one of the world's fastest mid-size business aircraft developed by Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer. Credit: Embraer.

Praetor 500 is equipped with intuitive situational awareness technology. Credit: Collins Aerospace.

Two Honeywell HTF7500E turbofan engines power the business jet. Credit: Honeywell International Inc.

Manufactured by Embraer, Praetor 500 is a mid-size business jet segment. The aircraft offers an optimal combination of performance, technology and comfort to customers.

In October 2018, the aircraft was launched in an event at the Orlando Executive Airport, together with a super-mid-size business jet Praetor 600. It was also exhibited during the National Business Aviation Association’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) during the same month.

Praetor 500 received certifications from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in August and September 2019 respectively.

The first delivery of the jet to an undisclosed customer took place in the third quarter of 2019.

Praetor 500 business jet design and features

The aircraft design is based on the Legacy 450 business jet. It integrates a low-wing design with a T-tail configuration. It is fitted with a fully retractable tricycle-type landing gear.

The jet is 19.68m-long, 6.43m-high and has a wingspan of 21.5m. It can accommodate up to nine passengers and two crew members. The jet’s baggage and storage volume is 4.25m³.

Flight deck and avionics

Praetor 500 features Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion flight deck, integrating four 15in diagonal liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The avionics suite is equipped with advanced intuitive situational awareness tools that reduce the pilot’s workload and improve decision-making. It also enhances the flight experience for the crew by providing accurate navigation and better connectivity and also ensuring safety during the flight.

A synthetic vision system (SVS) onboard the flight deck uses three-dimensional data to enhance situational awareness of the crew for safe take-off, landing and in-flight operations. Enhanced vision and head-up displays (HUDs) also support the system. The paper-free flight deck offers geo-referenced electronic charts, enriched maps and electronic checklists.

The aircraft features a fly-by-wire flight control system with sidestick controls, an inertial reference system and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance with real-time air traffic control.

The noise-free and dark deck reduces crew members’ fatigue during long flights.

Praetor 500 cabin details

6ft-tall cabins offer best-in-class cabin altitude and passenger comfort. They feature on-seat dining space, recliners, plush seats and convertible flatbeds. The flat-floor cabin supports multiple configurations.

The cabin has in-flight accessible baggage compartments and easy-to-access vacuum lavatory. The wet galley of the aircraft is designed to meet the requirements of a long flight. It is furnished with a microwave, conventional oven, refrigerator and a coffee maker.

Other features of the cabin include low-noise, connectivity of Ka-band and Gogo AVANCE L5, video and audio streaming, flight status, as well as schedule display and ambient lighting.

Engines and performance

Praetor 500 features two Honeywell HTF7500E turbofan engines that also power Praetor 600. HTF7500E is part of the HTF7000 family, which has accumulated more than four million flight hours. Each engine develops an optimal thrust of 29.09kN (6,540lbf).

A Honeywell 36-150 auxiliary power unit (APU) supplies electric power for ground operations onboard the jet. The APU also serves as a back-up power system during flight and reduces dependence on the ground power supply.

One of the world’s fastest mid-size business jets Praetor 500 has a cruise speed of 466 knots true speed (KTAS), while its maximum operating Mach number is 0.83.

The intercontinental range of the aircraft is 6,186km with four passengers on board. The aircraft can reach an altitude of 13,716m and requires a take-off distance of 1,287m and a landing distance of 636m.