Frequently asked questions
Phenom 100EX: what kind of aircraft is it and what to consider when buying?
The Phenom 100EX is Embraer's current very light jet, built since 2023. Five to six passengers, a range of 2,182 km, 750 km/h and two Pratt & Whitney PW617F1-E engines. The BMW Designworks Oval Lite cabin has the widest aisle in class, and the Garmin G3000 avionics include stall stabilisation. Certified single-pilot. There is no flight attendant or hot meal service — the cabin is compact. There is no in-flight baggage access — bags are loaded on the ground. On typical legs it covers routes such as Geneva–Zurich · London–Ibiza. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
How much does the Phenom 100EX cost: purchase and running costs?
Guide figures for the Phenom 100EX: average pre-owned price — $3.5M; new — $5.5M. Running costs at 300–400 h/year — about $1.39M/year, or $3,470 per flight hour. The final figure depends on year, hours flown, engine-programme status and configuration. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
What is Embraer known for and which business jets does it build?
Brazil's Embraer is the world's third-largest maker of civil aircraft after Airbus and Boeing. Its business line: the very light Phenom 100EX, the light Phenom 300E — the world's best-selling light jet for 12 years running — and the super-midsize Praetor 500/600 with up to 7,440 km of range. Signature style: BMW-studio cabins and full fly-by-wire on the Praetor. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
How reliable are the Phenom and Praetor and what about service?
The Phenom 300 fleet has passed 700 aircraft with dispatch reliability above 99.8% — the PW535E engines run 5,000 hours to overhaul. The Praetor inherited the airframe of the proven Legacy 450/500 line. Embraer's service network in Europe and the Middle East (Paris, Lisbon, Dubai) fully covers regional operators' needs, and heavy checks do not require a flight to the Americas. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
How well does Embraer hold value on the pre-owned market?
The Phenom 300 is a liquidity benchmark: a five-year-old 300E sells for $9–10.5M against a new $12.5M, and 30–60-day exposure is among the shortest on the market. The Praetor 600, short of new slots, sells at minimal discount. Early Phenom 100 ($2.3–3M) is a popular first jet, with steady demand even in weak quarters. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
How does the Praetor 600 differ from the Challenger 3500?
Two super-midsize leaders. The Praetor 600 is longer-legged — 7,441 km versus 6,297 km for the Challenger — and has full fly-by-wire with active turbulence damping. The Challenger 3500 answers with the widest cabin in class (2.19 m versus 2.08 m) and a far larger fleet of 300/350 predecessors, meaning a developed service infrastructure. List prices are close: $21–27M. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
What routes and tasks suit very light jets?
The VLJ is built for short business flights for 1–3 people: London–Paris, Geneva–Nice, Milan–Rome. The optimal leg is 800–2,000 km, i.e. 1.5–2.5 hours' flight. The aircraft are single-pilot certified and use short strips from 1,000 m, so they fly into small airports closer to the destination — Courchevel or St. Moritz instead of a major hub. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
What range and how many passengers do very light jets have?
The class standard is 4–6 passenger seats and 2,000–2,900 km of range: the Phenom 100EX 2,180 km, the Cirrus Vision Jet about 2,300 km, the Citation M2 Gen 2 2,880 km, the HondaJet Elite II 2,865 km. Cruise speed is 630–780 km/h. With a full cabin, real range drops to about 1,500–2,000 km. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
How does a very light jet differ from neighbouring classes?
A light jet (Phenom 300E, CJ4) carries 7–10 passengers over 3,700–4,000 km; a VLJ carries 4–6 over 2,000–2,900 km. Light jets have a roomier cabin with a full lavatory and a bigger hold, and higher speed. But a VLJ is 30–40% cheaper to charter and buy. The rule is simple: up to four passengers and 2,000 km — a VLJ is enough; more — you need a light jet. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
Which very light jets are in the fleet and how do they differ?
Four models: the Cessna Citation M2 Gen 2 — a classic with the longest range in the set (2,880 km); the HondaJet Elite II — the fastest (782 km/h) with a separate lavatory and a 1.87 m³ hold; the Embraer Phenom 100EX with a BMW Designworks cabin; and the Cirrus Vision Jet G2 — the only one with a CAPS airframe parachute and Safe Return auto-landing. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
How do you choose an aircraft to buy for your needs?
Start from two numbers: the length of your typical route and the number of passengers. Up to 1,000 km and 4 people — a turboprop or light jet; 2,000–4,000 km — a midsize jet; nonstop intercontinental — a long-range jet. Then adjust for short runways, baggage volume and sleeping berths. We'll match a model to your profile and calculate the ownership economics. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
New aircraft or pre-owned — which is the better buy?
A new aircraft means a factory warranty and a 1–3-year queue, but the price is at its peak. A pre-owned aircraft means immediate delivery and a price 30–60% lower, while engine time and history matter. For most buyers a fresh 3–7-year-old aircraft is optimal: the main depreciation has happened and plenty of life remains. We cost both options. Send us a request — we'll prepare options, calculate running costs and analyse the best fit for your task.
