XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53_XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53 10/12/13 14:36 Page64
VNE
By Ivan Veretennikov
XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53_XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53 10/12/13 14:37 Page65
VNE
High Class
Embraer Lineage 1000 The size of an airliner, the costs of a much smaller traditional business jet, and a whole range of features including a stand-up shower and a living room with a sofa and a big TV give the Lineage 1000 a number of unbeatable advantages.
65
XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53_XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53 10/12/13 14:37 Page66
VNE
66
XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53_XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53 10/12/13 14:37 Page67
VNE
Priced at around $53 million, or less than long-range bizjets such as the G550 or the Global 6000, the Embraer Lineage 1000 offers more than double their cabin size
I’ve flown on the Lineage twice: once from Moscow to Paris and the second time for a very enjoyable lunch above the Alps in Geneva. Over the years I have seen different interiors of this aircraft at airshows around the world, and although even the first aircraft I saw was hard to criticize, by now this business liner got even better. THE BASICS Priced at around $53 million, or less than long-range bizjets such as the G550 or the Global 6000, the Embraer Lineage 1000 offers more than double their cabin size. At the same time, it is slimmer and lighter than Airbus and Boeing business liners, and much cheaper, both to acquire and operate. Based on the ERJ190 airliner, it shares almost everything with the popular ERJ family. This means that crews, maintenance, spare parts, field support are already easy to find and wellestablished around the world. THE TECHNOLOGY As a truly modern aircraft, the Lineage 1000 is fitted with Embraer’s own fly-by-wire system. Pilot input is processed by computers, which then decide how to adjust the position of control surfaces. Basically, this means that instead of having to think about all the different controls, the pilot tells the plane where he wants to go with the yoke, and the plane does the rest. I saw the whole process of takeoff and landing on the Lineage from start to finish, and in a way it looks as if the aircraft is flying itself. Comparing that to a landing I spent sitting in the jump seat of a Tupolev Tu-134, a Soviet-era converted airliner, this was a breeze. The Russian pilots and engineer were evidently under pressure throughout the procedure, while the Brazilian crew taking us to Le Bourget were relaxed and enjoying themselves. With all due respect to pilots, in a world where human error is blamed for most accidents, it is good to have a safety system that looks after the aircraft and keeps it away from critical situations. The two GE CF34 engines with 82.3 KN thrust each translate into low variable costs per hour ($4734 according to Aircraft Cost Calculator) and a sporty 1056 mpm rate of climb, comparable to that of the very agile Global 6000. THE INTERIOR The true beauty of this aircraft is revealed as you step inside and find yourself in a welcome area. Take off your shoes, leave the umbrella and wet raincoat, put on your slippers and
67
XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53_XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53 10/12/13 14:37 Page68
VNE
With a range of 8150km, the Embraer Lineage 1000 can reach Mumbai from London or Riyadh from Beijing. Flying out from Dubai, it can go to London, Moscow or Cape Town continue through the galley, past the dining room and into the living area. Sit on the couch, turn on the 42” TV, have a cup of coffee and wait for the crew to prepare for takeoff. A pleasant picture indeed, and one that would have been impossible if the cabin of the Lineage 1000 didn’t measure 25.7 x 2.67 x 2 m and offer 70 sq m of floor space. The sheer length of the fuselage allows a layout with 5 distinct zones, while the width and height won’t leave anyone claustrophobic. One more superb idea is the “boss” chair standing by a desk facing a window. The perfect spot to plug in your laptop, take the sat phone and get down to business. With the barely noticeable hum of engines located far out under the wing, it’s easy to forget you are in an airplane at all. Oh, and for a more social gathering, there is also a little bar in the front of the lounge. That and the mood lighting are a good mix for a party. In the back is yet another surprise – a master
68
XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53_XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53 10/12/13 14:37 Page69
VNE suite with a queen-size bed, a spacious bathroom with a stand-up shower, a separate entertainment system and, of course, a proper door. Shut yourself off from the other passengers, put down the window shades with one push of a touch screen control panel, and you have a sleeping compartment at 41000 feet above sea level. And with that size of bed, one can just as well lie down sideways or diagonally! The baggage compartment is accessible in flight and, in Embraer’s tradition, is huge: a whole 9.15 cu m in volume. As Colin Steven, VP of Sales & Marketing said to me, it could fit a Mini Cooper if there was a way to get it in there.
step forward. This is confirmed in the big change of the revised Lineage – the lack of redundant windows in the welcome area and galley, as well as several in the back of the aircraft – but is also evident in the small details: the elegant new chairs, the stitching, the clever use of contrasting colors, and the quality finish of such elements as the joints between two halves of fold-out tables, that can be a disappointment in some aircraft. All in all, the addition of a strong in-house team has boosted the creative potential of Embraer and has led to a significant improvement in design and execution of Lineage 1000 interiors.
THE DESIGN
THE TRIPS
I started by saying that today the Lineage is better than it ever was. This is mostly thanks to Embraer’s relatively new interior design studio opened at its Customer Center in Melbourne, FL, and Jay Beever, the Vice President of Interior Design – a man of great taste who is always full of new ideas. Comparing the different aircraft I’ve seen over the years, I can say that Embraer has stuck to its “Home Away from Home” concept and the system whereby the customer builds his interior out of predefined modules offering hundreds of layout options, but the craftsmanship, the aesthetics, the choice of materials, and the approach to design have taken a good
With a range of 8150 km, the Embraer Lineage 1000 can reach Moscow from New York, Mumbai from London, or Riyadh from Beijing. Flying out from Dubai, it can go to London, Moscow, or Cape Town. It is the largest aircraft allowed to operate in New York Teterboro airport, and can also access such challenging locations as London City or Aspen, Colorado. Critics say: “It is no match for the long range jets in terms of nonstop flight range, and who needs a cabin this big for an 8—9-hour flight?” There are some good answers to this. First, in this case more space is cheaper than less space, while most other performance parameters are similar. This is
One more superb idea is the "boss" chair standing by a desk facing a window. The perfect spot to plug in your laptop, take the sat phone and get down to business.
69
XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53_XP VNE Embraer Lineage 1000 AE53 10/12/13 14:37 Page70
VNE
The beauty of this aircraft is revealed as you step inside and find yourself in a welcome area. The length allows a layout with five distinct zones, while the width and height won't leave anyone claustrophobic.
a win for the Lineage. Flying 12-13 hours in an airplane nonstop is exhausting but fast. In the Lineage, you would have to land and refuel, perhaps losing a few hours. On the other hand, this is a good chance to get out of the plane, plus you would be flying in a spacious cabin with a double bed, a shower, a TV, an office desk and what not. And a fuel stop – as long as it’s not in some obscure location – is a good chance to stock up on fresh food and beverages. Then it’s easy to go for another 8—9 hour flight with up to 19 passengers on board. Not the best option for individuals and companies who routinely fly over 10000 km, but these are by far not the only business aviation users. Anyone shopping in the $55+ million range should definitely consider the Embraer Lineage 1000, see it, touch it, experience it in flight. The combination of huge cabin, huge baggage compartment, modern technology, relatively low acquisition and ownership costs, fine interior design and quality, as well as good all-round performance truly sets it apart ■ from the competition.
70