NetJets receives first Signature Series Phenom 300 aircraft

US-based private jet operator NetJets has received its first Phenom 300 jetliner, the first light cabin NetJets Signature Series aircraft, from Embraer Executive Jets’ customer and delivery centre in Melbourne, Florida.

The aircraft delivery is part of a $1bn agreement signed in October 2010 that included 50 firm orders and 75 options, which created a partnership for the development NetJets’ Signature Series Phenom 300.

Embraer stated that beginning in 2014, the aircraft will be manufactured at Embraer Executive Jets’ Phenom production facility in Melbourne, Florida.

NetJets chairman and CEO Jordan Hansell said: "The addition of the Signature Series Phenom 300 will expand the unparalleled offerings and capabilities of the NetJets global fleet."

Embraer Executive Jets president Ernest Edwards added: "NetJets’ Signature Series Phenom 300 will deliver a unique experience to its customers and illustrate how well this aircraft fits into a variety of operations, including the demanding environment of private aviation."

The NetJets Signature Series Phenom 300 features a refreshment centre, custom cabin amenities such as a customised galley, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, Wi-Fi and a fully enclosed aft lavatory; it can accommodate up to seven passengers.

In addition, it will include the Prodigy Touch flight deck, based on the Garmin 3000 platform, which provides enhanced pilot interface and situational awareness, marking the first-in-service application of this advanced avionics system.

NetJets stated that the addition of the Signature Series Phenom 300 to its global fleet was a part of its strategy to add up to 670 new aeroplanes, valued at $17.6bn over the next ten years.

In addition to the Embraer Phenom 300 and Bombardier Global 6000, Global 5000 aircraft, the operator plans to add Bombardier Challenger jets including the Challenger 300 and Challenger 605 Series jets, the Cessna Citation Latitude, as well as the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 8000 aircraft.

Established in 1964, NetJets, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, offers fractional ownership and rental of private business jets.

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Image: The delivery of Phenom 300 jetliner is part of a $1bn agreement signed in October 2010 that included 50 firm orders and 75 options. Photo: courtesy of Embraer SA.