Flexjet Legacy 500, Marking Embraer’s 1,000th Business Jet, Completes Certification to Become First to Fly into London City Airport

Flexjet LLC, offering travelers access to the world’s most luxurious fleet of private jets, today announced a significant milestone as its Embraer Legacy 500, the fastest midsized private jet in the world, landed at London City Airport, further bolstering its international offering. Certification to fly into London City Airport, one of the world’s most technically difficult, is the latest development at Flexjet. The jet appointed to mark this milestone is the 1,000^th business aircraft ever built by Embraer Executive Jets, and was delivered to Flexjet last month.

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Raymond Jones, Flexjet Managing Director of International based in London, was on board the maiden flight into London City Airport today. “Access to London City Airport is a critical milestone as we evolve our presence in Europe while offering our North American Owners the perfect solution for reaching central London directly from the business centers of the U.S. east coast. Bypassing the long trek in from the airports on London’s periphery allows our Owners to transport to their final destinations more quickly,” said Jones.

Not only is London City Airport closer to the heart of the city than the other airports serving London, but it offers a 90-second promise to customers from car to aircraft departure. Noise restrictions, a short runway and London City Airport’s proximity to central London limit the types of aircraft that can fly in. In addition, the percentage landing and take-off grade of 5.5˚ is higher than typical airports, which require 3˚.

This occasion is the first time the Legacy 500 has flown into this airport and is the final step in the completion of the aircraft’s certification. The pilots made two approaches before a final approach and landing as part of the certification process. The Legacy 500 is among a select group of midsized business jets that are capable of a nonstop transatlantic crossing and also are approved to land at London City Airport.

“The Legacy 500 already has proven its remarkable field performance and now is able to fly in and out of London City Airport, reaching destinations as far as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Gander, Canada. This new operational capability for London’s financial district, one of Europe’s major business aviation hubs, will offer our customers additional flexibility in the best-in-class midsize jet,” said Marco Tulio Pellegrini, President and CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. “We are proud to be Flexjet’s partner in introducing the Legacy 500 to the transatlantic marketplace. Flexjet continues to expand its international presence, and we are pleased they called upon us to deliver an innovative aircraft that can meet the needs and expectations of their sophisticated clientele.”

The Legacy 500 is the first midsized business jet with digital flight controls, based on Fly-By-Wire technology. It can fly at 45,000 feet and is powered by a pair of Honeywell HTF7500E engines, the most environmentally friendly in their class. With the ability to take off from airfields as short as 4,084 feet, the Legacy 500 has a range of 3,452 miles (5,555 kilometers) with four passengers, including NBAA IFR fuel reserves, which enables it to fly nonstop on trips such as Teterboro (New Jersey) Airport-London City Airport.

Red Label by Flexjet Also Arrives at London City Airport

The Legacy 500 aircraft offers Red Label by Flexjet, which features flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft, artisan cabin interiors and access to the world’s newest shared jet fleet. Red Label provides premium comfort and customization that simulates a private flying experience as rewarding and empowering as owning one’s own aircraft, bridging the gap between traditional shared ownership programs and whole-aircraft ownership.

As part of Red Label, the Flexjet Legacy 500 includes features never before seen in other midsized aircraft, including granite veneer floor entryways and a wet galley (an unprecedented feature for a midsized aircraft). Among the aircraft’s seven sound-reducing design elements are extra sound wall layers that help make the cabin extremely quiet, thereby decreasing passenger fatigue.

At six feet tall and six feet 10 inches wide, the Legacy 500’s cabin is the largest in its class. It also has the largest baggage capacity in its category – 150 cubic feet. The Legacy 500 can carry eight passengers in the Flexjet LXi configuration. In addition, four fully reclining club seats may be converted into two beds for complete rest during long journeys.

“Embraer, Flexjet and the Directional Aviation family have had a long and distinguished partnership, and it is appropriate that the first Flexjet aircraft to fly into London City Airport not only is an Embraer jet but also the landmark 1,000^th aircraft to which it was my great honor to accept just last month,” said Flexjet Chief Executive Officer Michael Silvestro. “I am thrilled that my friend and colleague, Ray Jones, was able to commemorate this milestone on behalf of Flexjet today.”

As part of the Red Label by Flexjet fleet, the Legacy 500 and it sister plane, the Legacy 450, will provide the service quality that Flexjet transatlantic travelers expect. The Legacy 500 aircraft that flew into London City Airport also will be on static display at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 24-26, 2016.

About Flexjet

Flexjet first entered the shared jet ownership market in 1995, and celebrated its 20^th anniversary in May 2015. Flexjet offers shared jet ownership and leasing. Flexjet’s shared aircraft program is the first in the world to be recognized as achieving the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s Industry Audit Standard, and Flexjet is the first and only company to be honored with its 17^th FAA Diamond Award for Excellence. Flexjet’s shared jet ownership program fields an exclusive array of business aircraft—some of the youngest in the shared jet industry, with an average age of approximately six years—including their LXi Cabin Collection consisting of the Learjet 75LXi, Challenger 350, the Embraer Legacy 450, Global Express and the Gulfstream G450, G500 and G650, and the Aerion AS2 supersonic business jets. In addition, the overall jet collection includes the Embraer Phenom 300, Challenger 300 and Challenger 605. Flexjet is a member of the Directional Aviation family of companies. For more details on Flexjet’s innovative and flexible programs, visit www.flexjet.com or follow us on Twitter @Flexjet and on Instagram @FlexjetLLC.

About Embraer Executive Jets

Embraer is one of the world’s leading executive jet manufacturers, having entered the business aviation market in 2000 with the Legacy jet, which led to the launch of Embraer Executive Jets in 2005. Its portfolio, the broadest in the market, consists of the entry-level Phenom 100E and the Phenom 300 light jet, the Legacy 500 midsize and Legacy 450 mid-light, the super-midsize Legacy 600 and large Legacy 650 and the ultra-large Lineage 1000E. Completing 10 years in the market, Embraer Executive Jets’ global fleet exceeds 930 aircraft, which are in operation in more than 60 countries and are supported by the Company’s global Customer Support and Services network of about 75 owned and authorized service centers, complemented by a 24/7 Contact Center, at its headquarters, in Brazil. For more information, please visit www.embraerexecutivejets.com.

Follow us on Twitter: @Embraer

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The Hubbell Group, Inc.
Nicholas Parmelee, 001+781-878-8882 (office)
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nparmelee@hubbellgroup.com