Embraer predicts Legacy 500 certification within 30 days

Embraer expects to have its midsize Legacy 500 business jet cleared to enter service within 30 days, chief executive Frederico Curado says.

The fly-by-wire, nine-passenger aircraft is targeted for certification by Brazil’s national civil aeronautics agency by mid-year, but Curado says in an interview with Flightglobal that it should be done before August.

“We are really days [or] weeks away from certification,” Curado says. “We do expect to have the certification within the next 30 days.”

Embraer intended to start delivering the first Legacy 500s about 18 months ago, but various issues slowed the development and flight test programme. The type achieved first flight in November 2012.

Legacy 500 certification coming soon

“We are really in the very final, last, final, final fine-tuning,” Curado says. “As far as the aircraft itself, [the] flight campaign has been closed for some time.”

The company was confident enough of the aircraft’s airworthiness to allow a group of reporters to fly aboard the jet in Brazil in early April.

Read more at FlightGlobal.com–>

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