Live Unconventionally
EMBRAER QUARTERLY
VOL 5
Discover Vietnam Soaking in the natural beauty of the country
2019
Embraer Phenom 300 series The world’s best-selling light business jet for 7 years running
Desert Architecture Unforgiving landscapes make way for an architectural playground
DIFFERENT BY DESIGN. DISRUPTIVE BY CHOICE. Unprecedented performance. Industry-leading technology. Exceptional comfort. Introducing the new midsize Praetor 500 and the super-midsize Praetor 600 – the world’s most disruptive and technologically advanced business jets. A record-breaking best-in-class range. Enviable performance in challenging airports. Full fly-by-wire with active turbulence reduction. Unparalleled comfort in a six-foot-tall, flat-floor cabin. Ka-band home-like connectivity. Power the future. Take command. Lead the way. Learn more at executive.embraer.com.
I NT RO D U C I NG T HE NE W
CONTENTS EMBRAER 4 Perspective 6 News 28 Customer Profile 42 Company Profile 52 Making A Difference 68 Fleet 70 Global Presence 72 Events
/ Embraer
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@ Embraer
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PEOPLE & INNOVATION 32
Philanthropy Disruptive Influence A new page in philanthropy
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Progress Unbinding Your Atlas Bringing people back into the wild
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Innovation A Revolution in Mobility Autonomous vehicles are the future
IMAGES (right page, clockwise from top) © Juan Hitters / Casa Cavia, © Andy Lund / The Test Kitchen, © Alexa Firmenich / Atlas Unbound
TRAVEL
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LIFESTYLE
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Uncharted The Fragrant Isle Experiencing Sri Lanka
Epicurean History on a Plate The culinary capital of Africa
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Art Sculpting a Collection The art of collecting sculptures
Expeditions Travel Gems Exciting new locations
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Future of Travel The Future Is Personal Hyper-personalized travel
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Pursuit Winter Equestrian Festival An international competition
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Escape The Majesty of the Rockies Weekend getaway in Telluride
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City Guide Enticing Buenos Aires Urban tips for your next trip
COVER
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Design Buildings in the Sand Deserts inspiring architecture
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Portfolio Petros Koublis Landscapes in Still Life
Rice paddies, Vietnam – Some of the most photographed terrains in Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese have a long tradition of carving rice fields into their homeland’s mountainous landscapes. The terraces can be found throughout the country and provide a more effective form of farming, as the design helps prevent erosion. Many of the paddies date as far back as the 18th century.
Embraer Quarterly · 3
PERSPECTIVE
Dear Friends, Welcome to the first issue of 2019, which coincides with a special milestone in the history of Embraer —the 50-year anniversary of the company. A true Journey of Wonder from the very beginning, Embraer continues to rise as one of the leading aircraft manufacturers in the world. Moving forward with the same passion that the pioneers who founded the company had, we continue to dream, to persevere and to innovate. Our current spirit of innovation and passion is evidenced by the exciting news about the Phenom 300 series, which was named the world’s best-selling light business jet for the seventh year in a row in the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) annual report. In case you have not experienced this best-selling aircraft in person, our Global Demo Tour is underway. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the jet and its revolutionary new interior at a location near you. Since launching the Praetor 500 and the Praetor 600—the world’s most technologically advanced midsize and super-midsize business jets—to tremendous enthusiasm, we are further inspired to push boundaries by innovating, disrupting and revolutionizing. The excitement grows as their certification process advances well, and they near their entry-into-service dates later this year. These jets deliver the finest experience for both pilots and passengers, providing the utmost value for aviation and financial success. With the recent shareholder approval of the strategic partnership with Boeing, we are writing a new, exciting chapter in our success story—a chapter that is bold and full of opportunity. We remain hungry for new technological advancements, focusing on excellence as we push boundaries and dare the impossible. Thank you for being a part of Embraer’s journey as we challenge, create and outperform. Here’s to another industry-redefining 50 years and more. Blue skies ahead! Sincerely, Michael Amalfitano President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets
EMBRAER EXECUTIVE JETS Luciano Froes | Senior Vice President Marketing Felipe Alfaia | Marketing Director Aliona Groh | Content Strategy Manager www.executive.embraer.com/advantage
NG.MEDIA Nathalie Grolimund | Publisher Margaux Daubry | Managing Editor Nicholas Thompson | Deputy Editor Clément Barré | Senior Graphic Designer Betti Fiegle | Photography Editor www.ng.media | contact@ng.media advertising: advertising@ng.media
CONTRIBUTORS Alex Cox | Copy Alexa Firmenich | Copy Catharine Nicol | Copy Celeste Moure | Copy Emma O'Kelly | Copy Georgina Wilson-Powell | Copy Jeremy Freed | Copy Melissa Twigg | Copy
Unless otherwise credited in each feature, all images are property of ©EMBRAER. Every effort has been made to identify the copyright holders of material used and accuracy of the information in this publication. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors, and you can contact us at contact@ng.media for any enquiries. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All information is correct as of press time but is subject to change.
Printed in March 2019 Produced with care by NG.MEDIA SA for EMBRAER SA ©2019 NG.MEDIA. All rights reserved.
4 · Advantage Vol5 2019
CHALLENGE. CREATE. OUTPERFORM.
INTRODUCING FLEETLOGIC THE FLIGHT BY EMBRAER DEPARTMENTS For the world’s most successful corporations, a well-tuned flight department OF TOMORROW offers a formidable competitive advantage. ARE THOSE But, faced with ever-increasing, shared-transportation options and persistent OPTIMIZED demand for financial return, corporate flight departments today are compelled to maximize the return on their aviation assets and operations while reducing FOR MAXIMUM risks, enhancing safety and ensuring a high-level customer experience. VALUE TODAY. Building on a history of success with complex aircraft operations, Embraer has developed the industry’s first fully comprehensive, analytics-based fleet optimization solution for corporate flight departments — FleetLogic by Embraer. With our history of innovation, industry-leading product portfolio — including four clean-sheet designs — and our #1-ranked product support team, there is no OEM more qualified to show you the way. With FleetLogic, you’ll have the tools to help your company get the most out of its aviation assets and add maximum value to the bottom line. Contact us and let us show you how. FleetLogic@embraer.com +1.321.752.8500 embraer.com/fleetlogic
NEWS
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT The latest Embraer news from around the globe to keep you soaring to new heights
THE PHENOM 300E MOCKUP CONCLUDES ITS SUCCESSFUL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR In February 2019, Embraer’s Phenom 300E mockup concluded its North American Tour. The mockup is a full fuselage of the Phenom 300E fitted to a tractor trailer, which thus has access to some of the country’s most influential parties and events. The stylish truck kicked off its road-trip on April 7, 2018 in Austin, Texas. As it traversed the nation, the mockup stopped for crowds to enjoy it in over 20 cities across the United States, from Fort Lauderdale to Las Vegas, from Monterey to Big Sky. Thousands of visitors explored the stunning interior of the Phenom 300E for themselves. As if they were passengers in their own private jet, they basked in the sleek new interiors and reclined in the beautiful cabin. From bluegrass at the Kentucky Derby to the rugged links at Pebble Beach, visitors experienced how the ergonomics, meticulous attention to detail and class-leading technology elevate the passenger experience to a whole new level, previously unseen in the light jet category. Add on to this cabin experience the aircraft’s enviable performance, and it was easy for thousands to imagine why this jet is such a crowd pleaser.
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North America Phenom 300E Mockup Stops
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1. Austin, TX 2. Palm Beach, FL 3. Louisville, KY 4. Daytona Beach, FL 5. Big Sky, MT 6. Monterey, CA 7. Melbourne, FL 8. Essex County, NJ 9. Syracuse, NY 10. Las Vegas, NV 11. Orlando, FL 12. Austin, TX 13. Fort Lauderdale, FL 14. Van Nuys, CA 15. Opa-Locka, FL 16. Fort Lauderdale, FL 17. Scottsdale, AZ 18. Atlanta, GA 19. Monterey, CA 20. Aspen, CO 21. Boca Raton, FL
The Phenom 300E Advantage at a Glance • Unmatched comfort with the entirely redesigned cabin interior, showcasing the industry-leading nice® HD Cabin Management System/InFlight Entertainment (CMS/IFE) by Lufthansa Technik • The fastest, longest range single-pilot aircraft in the world • State-of-the-art Prodigy® Touch flight deck, optimized for single-pilot operation •P urpose-built aircraft, delivering lowest operating costs in the category, ease of maintenance and airline-like reliability
Performance Summary • Range (LRC, 6 occupants, NBAA IFR reserves 100 nm alternate) – 1,971 nm / 3,650 km • MMO – M 0.78 • High speed cruise – 453 kt / 839 km/h • TOFL (MTOW, SL, ISA) – 3,138 ft / 956 m • Certified ceiling – 45,000 ft / 13,716 m • Unfactored landing distance (6 occ. and NBAA IFR reserves with 100 nm alternate) – 2,220 ft / 677 m •E ngines / Thrust PW535E / 3,360 lb
PHENOM 300 SERIES IS THE BESTSELLING LIGHT BUSINESS JET IN THE WORLD FOR THE 7TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) 2018 annual report, Embraer's Phenom 300 series was the year’s best-selling light business jets in the world for the seventh consecutive year, with 53 combined deliveries between the Phenom 300 and Phenom 300E, proving Embraer’s long legacy of excellence, innovation and leading the way. “I bet that there is no other airplane out there that can do what the Phenom 300 series can do as far as safety, comfort and dispatch rate,” says David Mendal, owner of Forest Travel. “The reliability on that airplane is unbelievable. And the most important thing is the efficiency of that airplane.” This purpose-built light business jet has dominated the world as the fastest single-pilot aircraft on the market, with the longest range in class, delivering remarkable performance, enviable reliability and economical life, as well as ease of maintenance. The new Phenom 300E elevates the customer experience to an entirely new level, boasting a modern and luxurious interior along with revolutionary technology previously unseen in this category for unmatched comfort. The aircraft has been hugely popular with global customers, from private owner/operators to large fleet operators. “Today, I pilot the Phenom 300 from Embraer with great honor,” says pilot Pedro Persivo. “It is an aircraft that meets all my expectations as an aviator and as a professional.” Since entering service in 2009, over 490 Phenom 300 and Phenom 300E aircraft are flying all over the world, with more than 780,000 hours in flight.
LEGACY 450 AND LEGACY 500 FLEET HITS NEW MILESTONE EYES ON THE GOAL: SINO JET WINS TWO PRIZES To honor Sino Jet’s remarkable growth and the contribution to Embraer fleet’s safety and reliability, Embraer China gave Sino Jet the “Best Operation” award during the Embraer Executive Jet Operators’ Conference in Tianjin. Sino Jet also announced that it achieved stage three IS-BAO, the internationally recognized safety standard from the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), making it the first operator in mainland China to do so. IS-BOA stage three is the highest level in a five-year performance-based assessment that specifically recognizes compliance with the IS-BAO standards and practices.
Embraer’s Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 fleet recently surpassed a new milestone: 100,000 flight hours. With a fleet of more than 100 aircraft, both aircraft have been widely accepted worldwide and are especially popular with corporate flight departments. The advanced technologies within both aircraft were, until now, previously unseen in the medium-cabin category. Both clean-sheet design aircraft are currently the only medium-cabin business jets designed in the 21st century, with industry-leading advancements elevating the flight experience to a whole new level: full fly-by-wire technology with active turbulence reduction for a smoother, safer flight; a revolutionary flight deck with advanced avionics; a standup cabin with a flat floor and unmatched ergonomics along with classleading in-flight connectivity; fully berthing seats; and enviable runway performance—all designed with the goal of delivering the utmost value to its operators. To experience these amazing jets firsthand, visit Embraer’s website at executive.embraer.com/events to learn more about where the aircraft will be showcased on static display in a city near you.
Embraer Quarterly · 7
The Fragrant Isle Travel Gems Worldwide
IMAGE © 2019 Pixabay
The Future is Personal The Majesty of the Rockies City Guide to Buenos Aires
TRAVEL
UNCHARTED
THE FRAGRANT ISLE Sri Lanka entices with its wealth in exotic spices, tea and surprising cultural highlights ripe for discovery
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Left Ceylon Tea Trails offer panoramas of mountains and lush tea fields
THE ROMANCE OF TEA After the whirr of the flight, gentle splash-landing on the lake’s liquid runway, deplaning onto the weatherworn wood of the tiny pier and gentle climb up past trees, flowers and lawn, the arrival at Ceylon Tea Trails’ Summerville Bungalow resplendentceylon.com delivers you to possibly the most charming ‘arrivals lounge’ in the world. Sitting in colonial comfort, back-dropped by infinite shades of tea plantation green, the luxurious, meditative silence and stillness, but for the odd chirp and fly-by of a bird, envelopes you. And you are welcomed, of course, with a cup of tea. This will be your first of many, for in this part of Sri Lanka, tea is everything.
WORDS Catharine Nicol, IMAGE © Sebastian Posingis / Courtesy of Ceylon Tea Trails
Summerville Bungalow is one of Ceylon Tea Trails’ five plantation villas including Norwood, Castlereagh, Tientsin and Dunkeld. Once home to tea plantation managers, now it is travelers who are roused from sleep by butlers serving breakfast tea wake-up calls in these luxury heritage homes. Hikes and bike rides lead through the plantations where women harvest “two leaves and a bud,” bright saris contrasting photogenically with the rows of green. In the evenings sundowners are poured, croquet sharpens the appetite for food as well as competition, and feasts of Sri Lankan cuisine lead to fire-lit digestifs—and there will always be more cups of tea, of course. The acknowledged capital of tea country is Nuwara Eliya, where British colonial buildings have been sheltering visitors escaping the heat of the coast and plains since 1825. It’s tee country too. The outstandingly beautiful 117-year-old Nuwara Eliya Golf Club nuwaraeliyagolfclub. com course (par 71) at 6,100-foot altitude is renowned for its cool temperatures, tight fairways and views of Mt. Pidurutalagala, the highest mountain in the country. Fascinating factory visits trace the journey of the sacks of tea leaves through colonial-era machinery that shake, rattle and roll while withering, rolling, fermenting, drying and grading. Would you like your Orange Pekoe in leaf, broken or dust form? Charlotte Travel recommends Heritance Tea Factory hotel heritancehotels.com, where you can harvest your own leaves before relaxing in front of a well-earned indulgent afternoon tea. You’ll sip your hot beverage with a new-found respect for this infinitely reviving everyday drink.
Embraer Quarterly · 11
UNCHARTED
EMBRAER TIP Travel to Colombo Airport, Sri Lanka in a Legacy 450 flying up to 9 passengers-one of the smoothest rides possible thanks to the aircraft's active turbulence reduction. From there, a helicopter takes you to Ceylon Tea Trails bungalows in 45 min.
CITY SIGHTS Spontaneous cricket games, the afternoon passeggiata around the ramparts and window-shopping for beautiful textiles and antiques all mean you must be in Galle. No longer a sleepy town, the 400-year-old Galle Fort is nevertheless still full of local and UNESCO-protected charm. The epitome of colonial chic here is Amangalla aman. com. The 17th-century Dutch colonial building is home to 31 rooms and suites, and the Aman group’s flawless aesthetics mixing heritage with heart. Cool off in the secluded pool, or escape into The Baths, where healing soaks and doctor-consulted Ayurvedic therapies soothe and restore energy and well-being. The Dutch believed Sri Lanka’s cinnamon was the best in all the Orient. The spice has always been highly prized, and inland from nearby Weligama Bay, Ceylon Cinnamon tours, led by the English owner, take you the length and breadth of a plantation producing quills, ground cinnamon and oil. You’ll earn the home-cooked lunch prepared with the spice, and including the plantation’s famous cinnamon biscuits. Just a couple of hours’ north, the Portuguese, Dutch and British-influenced capital Colombo takes the pace back up. Stay at Maniumpathy maniumpathy.com for the best of both worlds—a calm oasis within easy reach of busy city life. The walls can talk here, and you’ll be soaking up as if 12 · Advantage Vol5 2019
by osmosis the heritage and heirlooms of five generations of the same family’s life. The eight suites are all different, there’s terrace dining and the Ebony Room for hosting chandelier-lit dinners. In this Cinnamon Gardens district, you’re not far from The Gallery Café paradiseroad.lk, the former offices of the late Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most famous architect. Interiors are of dark wood and water features, the international and local cuisine some of the best in town, and the gallery shop ideal for high quality souvenirs.
Above Galle is known for its fortified old city founded by Portuguese colonists in the 16th century Left Located in a 17th-century Dutch colonial building, Amangalla is home to 31 rooms and suites
IMAGES © Aman
Right The Amangalla’s design is a quintessential example of the elegance of the Dutch colonial style
To really get under the skin of the city, join one of Mark Forbes’ walking or vintage car tours of Colombo colombocitywalks.com, starting from the Dutch Hospital complex of restaurants and boutique shops, tracing an entertaining historic and cultural route, delivering intriguing information and insights thanks to his many years in the city.
A SRI LANKAN SAFARI Anticipation runs high as you scour the dry, dusty land. Searching for a shape, a color, a movement among the rocks, trees and bushes. In Sri Lanka’s semi-arid Southern Province, Yala National Park is 375 square miles of “insalubrious conditions,” according to a 16th-century Spanish cartographer. Once a hunting ground for the British elite, now a wildlife sanctuary, it is currently home to around 44 mammal and 215 bird species. On your Jeep, eyes on stalks for all these species, suddenly he’s there! A leopard. Beautiful and majestic, the raw power sending your adrenalin skywards. Yala also boasts one of the densest concentrations of leopards in the world, but elephant, sloth bears, jackals, crocs, peacocks and more make frequent cameo appearances.
Embraer Quarterly · 13
UNCHARTED
Between morning and evening jeep safaris, guests do much like the animals—rest, swim and graze. At the incomparable Wild Coast Tented Lodge resplendentceylon.com, when you’re not soaking up your luxury cocoon suite’s vintage chic, you’ll be game watching from your own viewing deck, as the lodge is open to the wild and cocoons are strategically set around watering holes. Central to the resort is the domed oceanfront restaurant bar and library, overlooking the calm, cool pool and rough, rugged beach of boulders and waves beyond. As expected in such a stunning location, the lodge’s DNA is all about conservation and preservation, while out in the park, it’s kill or be killed; the irony is not lost. Lightfoot Travel also recommends Gal Oya National Park, southeast of Kandy, as a rustic alternative but with fewer fellow travelers jostling for big animal views. Embark on jeep, boat and walking safaris and stay in Gal Oya Lodge galoyalodge.com.
BEACH CHIC Between Yala and Galle, some of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful beaches offer the perfect respite from safari and city. Near the market town of Tangalle, on the curvy bay of Mawella Beach, watch local fishermen set out to sea in colorful boats, bringing in their catches and mending nets. This age-old routine unfolds below boutique Taru Villas Mawella taruvillas.com. There are just five guestrooms, each with a four-poster bed, open to greenery or the pool decking. The entire villa is clearly designed for deliciously lazy days revolving around the water and food; eat down on the beach, in the garden, on the veranda. Or alternatively head next door to The Tangalle Social, a delightful breezy beachside restaurant with lawn that leads to sand and then sea. To see the island’s beaches from a different perspective by chartering a day cruise or liveaboard trip, Jacada Travel picks ecologically sustainable Sail Lanka sail-lanka-charter.com. Life on the ocean waves can include swimming, snorkeling and diving or simply relaxing between the spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Ask the crew to drop in at bars or UNESCO World Heritage Sites, look for whales and dolphins, or visit turtle and bird conservation areas.
WELLNESS RETREATS An hour from Kandy, Santani santani.lk is a stylishly minimalist wellness resort of 48 panoramic acres and seemingly endless ways to detox, relax and uplift. Clear the mental and physical cobwebs here, with anything from a few days’ hibernation to a month’s seriously healing retreat. Whatever you need, the resort’s team can deliver tailor-made solutions that not only precipitate
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IMAGES (clockwise from left) © Santani Resort & spa, (below) © Tim Evan Cook / Courtesy of Wild Coast Tented Lodge
Left Santani is a luxury wellness resort located in the highlands of Sri Lanka Right Meaning “in harmony with,” Santani offers a uniquely restorative sanctuary Below At Wild Coast Tented Lodge, the uniquely shaped tents offer the comfort of a luxury hotel
real change but also give you the tools to continue newly learned good habits back home. Take a day to explore the lakeside, market town of Kandy, and drop in on one of the country’s most celebrated photographers for a private viewing of his incredible range of work spanning more than 30 years. In turn delightful and chilling, this rare experience serves as a tangible narrative to the country’s last few decades. Amuna Ayurveda Retreat amunaayurvedaretreat.com, located in the cultural triangle, is the place to deep dive into Ayurveda, the 5000-year-old lifestyle philosophy with roots in India. Doctor consultations and diagnoses reveal your state of health and strongest dosha (body type), allowing them to treat you with yoga, massages, herbal baths and tinctures, treatments, meditation and a doshaled food menu. The goal is balance, physically, mentally and spiritually. After such a grounding stay, take to the air once more with a scenic helicopter-eye-view of Sigiriya’s UNESCO World Heritage rock fortress. Home to the palace of King Kasyapa in the 5th century, today’s ruins depict a stunning feat of ancient architectural engineering on a natural wonder of the world. Sri Lanka is a true wonder of the world. The warmth of the people, the diversity of destinations, the sheer number of unforgettable experiences really do make it, “Undoubtedly the finest island of its size in the world,” as coined by Marco Polo back in the 13th century.
Embraer Quarterly · 15
EXPEDITIONS
TRAVEL GEMS From a secluded Vietnamese getaway to a cruise across the globe, we present a round up of our top suggestions around the world to evoke your inner wanderlust
SECLUSION BY THE BAY The recently opened Anantara Quy Nhon Villas are flanked by mountains overlooking the Bay of Quy Nhon. 26 villas dot seven acres of lush landscaping fronting a private cove, each with its own cantilevered private pool fringed by the verdant jungle, providing guests with a luxurious castaway sanctuary. The service level is what one would expect from the Anantara, with an extraordinary level of personalization. Guests can choose from a range of activities like private dining experiences featuring fresh seafood, gourmet street eats, hot pots and island picnics, beachside martial arts, water sports, local excursions to surrounding ruins, fisherman’s villages and uninhabited islands just off the coast, as well as Vietnamese cooking classes and much more. The luxurious hillside jungle spa with picturesque views of the bay incorporates organic ingredients from the gardens, like lemongrass and ginger. The couple’s treatment suite provides the perfect escape, with an alfresco cliffside pavilion complete with an oversized tub for a coconut milk bath. anantara.com 16 · Advantage Vol5 2019
AT HOME ON THE SEAS The seas’ largest privately-owned residential yacht The World will embark on an extraordinary journey in 2019, taking residents to 91 ports of call across the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Europe, India and the High Arctic. With 165 residences on board, families can tailor their expedition to suit their needs, blending iconic metropolises with off-the-grid destinations. The itinerary includes two expeditions for in-depth journeys into two extraordinary regions, both accompanied by a team of experts. In January, the ship set sail in the Indian Ocean and visited Madagascar and Aldabra of the Seychelles islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Come late summer, the ship will sail 3,500 miles along the northern coastline of Canada and Alaska. aboardtheworld.com
WORDS Nicholas Thompson, IMAGES (right) © Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, (left from top) © The World, © Octola Lodge
EXPLORING NEW ZEALAND IN STYLE
REDISCOVERING A CLASSIC DESTINATION
Setting out to present luxury travel experiences that Renowned for its untouched landscapes and otherworldly nature, are guest-focused within this classic travel destination, New Zealand has long been one of the most enticing destinations. Tuscany Again seeks to create an authentic story for each Now, the Lindis Group has set out to help travelers discover the guest, revealing Tuscany in an entirely new way, from islands in style. A new ultra-luxury boutique hotel and residence behind-the-scenes glimpses into the hidden workshops group, each of the three properties in the portfolio is located in a and private domains of passionate experts and artisans to stunning setting, be it the luxurious The Lindis lodge in Ahuriri exploring unknown corners and back streets of the region’s Valley, the Chalet New Zermatt near Queenstown or the Paroa famous cities. The custom itineraries provide even seasoned Bay Winery in the Bay of Islands. Whether visiting a single visitors to the region with a fresh new perspective, going property or touring the best the country has to offer, each of beyond simple sightseeing and becoming an unforgettable these luxurious venues provide the perfect launch pad from holistic voyage into Tuscany’s beauty, history and tradition. which one can soak in New Zealand’s pristine surrounds. tuscanyagain.org thelindisgroup.com
THE QUINTESSENTIAL ARCTIC LODGE In the northern reaches of Finnish Lapland, Octola lodge harmoniously combines modern architectural trademarks with the rustic feeling of a wilderness cabin and the service of a luxury hotel. Wilderness guides will take guests on expeditions through the frozen landscapes, while back at the lodge, worldclass chefs provide for ample sustenance, with a strong focus on Nordic cuisine and ingredients local to the area. Octola provides guests with a unique chance to connect with nature, and every space within the lodge reflects the respect the owner has for the Arctic landscape. The lodge is accessible by helicopter, snowmobile or car, but the privacy here is second to none. On behalf of each guest, a generous donation is made to the Private Wilderness Fund to help protect Arctic wildlife. octola.com
Embraer Quarterly · 17
FUTURE OF TRAVEL
Above Hotel Escondido is the ideal private paradise for beach bums and thrill seekers Right With onefinestay, every home is prepared to luxury hospitality standards
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WORDS Nicholas Thompson, IMAGES (top) © Design Hotels™ / Hotel Escondido, (below) © onefinestay / St Katharine’s Houseboat, London
THE FUTURE IS PERSONAL New advancements in technology and a changing demographic have increased traveler demands for hyper-personalized experiences
T
hough still in its nascence, harvesting data to provide hyper-personalized customer experiences is considered as being the “next big thing” across a range of businesses. Within the travel industry, travelers crave a higher level of personalization than what most are offering, presenting a unique opportunity for early adopters. Luxury travelers especially expect their preferences to be known and fulfilled along every step of their journey, from the moment they begin planning their trip to their return home. It’s no longer enough for a hotel to provide guests with an easy check-in, a nicely appointed room and standard amenities. Guests want to know that their needs are understood and taken care of so they can escape from the ordinary. It should come as little surprise that much of the innovation in personalized travel is coming from tech startups. Services like Uber and Airbnb analyze how luxury consumers solve their problems, using technology to scale those ideas. Their access to data and technology put them at a natural advantage, as they can utilize the data they collect to tailor their messaging and services. By combining first and third-party data, travel brands can get a better understanding of their customer. But in order to succeed in personalization, technology should be balanced with the human touch.
Velocity Black, a concierge app that has gained attention from the likes of Gigi Hadid, Poppy Delevigne and Ellie Goulding, calls itself the “next generation members club.” Combining artificial intelligence technology with human guidance, the lifestyle service allows members to choose from a curated selection of experiences, from last-minute reservations at exclusive restaurants to yacht chartering and expeditions as far-flung as flying a fighter jet to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere. The app itself features a 24/7 chat for members, providing them instant access to ondemand support. From booking flights to extra perks at some of the most exclusive hotels worldwide and tailor-made itineraries for the extraordinary, the app is incredibly easy to use, and Velocity Black’s dedicated travel assistants are quick to respond. They are even able to get members access to exclusive events that are generally not open to the public. Brick-and-mortar accommodations also have caught on to the increasing demand for personalization. As many hotel chains have had difficulty parting ways with the impersonal corporatestyle accommodation that dominated in the past, vacation rentals have been gaining in popularity amongst luxury travelers. With onefinestay, guests stay in carefully curated private homes, apartments and villas in sought after destinations around the world – with an
Embraer Quarterly · 19
FUTURE OF TRAVEL
Left It takes eight weeks to produce the personalized welcome packages provided to Velocity Black members Right The Velocity Black app inspires and facilitates its members to access unparalleled experiences Below Design Hotels™ are crafted to create Original Experiences for guests
unprecedented level of service and care. Its exclusive portfolio represents some of the finest homes in the world—think everything from terraced townhouses in Notting Hill to a beach house in St. Barts. The company’s dedicated team of travel advisors provide guests with a personalized booking experience from the moment of enquiry to ensure travelers find the perfect accommodation for their needs. “Our greatest divergence from other marketplaces in this category is our personalized and professional service to both guests and homeowners, from welcoming a new home into the portfolio and managing the booking to tailoring the stay itself,” says Catherine Cardoso, director of hospitality and brand of onefinestay. The luxury private rental company provides guests with 24/7 support and every home is prepared to its exacting hospitality standards. Depending on guest preferences, onefinestay can also organise custom grocery deliveries, spa treatments, private chefs, butlers or bespoke local experiences. Not all hotels have missed out on the chance to accommodate the needs of discerning travelers. Many individually 20 · Advantage Vol5 2019
owned and operated hotels, like those represented by the Berlin-based company Design Hotels™, recognized that guests were looking for more than just a place to rest their head when staying at a hotel. The group introduced its Original Experiences series, highlighting the people behind the more than 300 properties represented by Design Hotels™ and offering guests immersive experiences “that stay with you long after you’ve returned home.” From catching waves off the Oaxacan coastline in Puerto Escondido to dancing the night away in an era-defining nightclub in Paris, the group has set out to provide guests with experiences they’ll never forget. Some properties are also using technology to boost their services. With the help of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology incorporated into room keys, hotel staff can receive notification of a guest’s name, preferences and more, whether the guest is approaching the check-in desk or arriving at the hotel restaurant for dinner. This allows for hotels to offer guests a higher level of VIP service. Even some larger hospitality brands like Hilton and Marriott are exploring options to increase the level
IMAGES (clockwise from top left) © Velocity Black, (below) © Design Hotels™
EMBRAER TIP Travel from Los Angeles to Puerto Escondido International Airport, Mexico in about 3.5 hours with a Legacy 500 flying up to 12 passengers. From there, drive to Hotel Escondido in 28 min.
of personalization provided to guests throughout their properties around the world. Marriott is using the Internet of Things (IoT) to change the hotel room experience through their own version of a connected room. By partnering with technology companies like Legrand and Samsung, Marriott has introduced two different prototype rooms that have been pre-programmed for different traveler personas, providing them with a hyperpersonalized experience based on their pre-defined preferences. Essentially, Marriott is leveraging guest profiles, saving their preferences so that, whether traveling for business or leisure, guest needs are met before they even have to ask. Some of the tech features in the rooms include voice-controlled lighting, temperature, humidity, curtains, artwork and more. Sensors sense when guests get out of bed at night and automatically turn on red lights guiding the path to the bathroom. The technology is still in its infancy, but it is reasonable to expect hotels to begin rolling out with some of the features as early as late 2019. It’s no doubt that personalization is one of the key trends in travel for this year. How companies leverage the advancements in technology will determine their ability to keep up with the demands of today’s travelers. One thing is for certain: It is only a matter of time before we begin seeing more and more brands trending towards more personalized experiences for their customers in the coming months and years.
Embraer Quarterly · 21
ESCAPE
THE MAJESTY OF THE ROCKIES World-class skiing and accommodation meets vintage western charm in Telluride, Colorado
S
ome ski towns can feel more like bustling cities than rustic getaways, but not so with Telluride, a quaint town of 2,500 nestled in Colorado’s stunning San Juan mountains. Blessed with an abundance of 9,000–14,000 feet peaks, plus ample snow and sunny blue skies, Telluride isn’t a place to shop or be seen, but to revel in some of the world’s best skiing. Don’t let Telluride’s charming main street of clapboard western buildings fool you: It has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a gold rush frontier town. Slope-side accommodations get the five-star treatment at The Peaks thepeaksresort.com, a ski-in/ski-out resort and spa in Telluride’s Mountain Village, and the ideal base from which to explore the surrounding area. Rooms and suites are designed for maximum comfort for couples and families, while the hotel’s penthouses boast steam showers, Jacuzzi tubs, Sub Zero appliances and peerless views of the surrounding mountains. A small collection of cabins adjacent
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to the hotel offer even more privacy, along with expansive floor plans and distinctive interior design. Colorado’s largest spa is onsite, offering a decadent array of wellness experiences to unwind after a day on the mountain. For visitors looking for a more home-like option, Exceptional Stays by Telluride Rentals exceptionalstays.com provide a collection of luxurious chalets ranging from the cozy three-bedroom Deer Park retreat to the palatial 11,800-square-foot Sunset Ridge. Working up an appetite is easy in Telluride, and the dining options are just as impressive as the slopes themselves. At Alpino Vino tellurideskiresort.com, the loftiest restaurant in North America, traditional Italian cuisine and a wide selection of wine is served alongside spectacular views of the Wilson Range. For dinner, guests arrive via Sno-Cat to sample a five-course Northern Italian tasting menu, complete with handmade pasta and wine pairings from their extensive cellar. In town, the Chop House at the New Sheridan Hotel newsheridan.com
Left Telluride Via Ferrata is one of the most iconic and notable rock climbing areas in the West Right The Revelation Bowl is known for having some of the steepest inbounds terrain in Colorado
WORDS Jeremy Freed, IMAGES © Ryan Bonneau / Courtesy of Visit Telluride
Below This former mining village combines epic skiing with a laid-back, Old West vibe
provides a taste of Telluride history alongside their menu of seafood, game and range-fed beef. The adjoining bar, which dates back to 1895, serves up a selection of local craft beer, along with weekly live music performances.
EMBRAER TIP Travel from Chicago to Telluride Regional Airport in the fastest midsize jet-the new Praetor 500, flying up to 9 passengers. From there, a driver takes you to Mountain Village in 15 min.
Telluride’s surrounding mountains are reputed to offer some of the best runs in the Rocky Mountains. A public gondola carries passengers between the town of Telluride and Mountain Village, the only transportation system of its kind in North America. From there, skiers can access a network of blessedly line-free lifts, where trails for all ability levels span over three square miles of skiable mountainside. Thanks to an annual snowfall of more than 23 feet and over 300 days of sunshine a year, conditions couldn’t be more ideal. For those in search of more adventurous terrain, Helitrax helitrax.com, Colorado’s premiere back country outfitter, offers single-day and multi-day heli-ski expeditions throughout the San Juan mountains from The Peaks Resort & Spa. There’s just as much to do when the snow melts. Bring a mountain bike aboard the gondola to explore the mountain’s many off-road trails, or spend the day rock climbing at nearby Cracked Canyon. For expert advice, visit Telluride Outside tellurideoutside.com for a wide range of outfitting services, including river rafting, ATV tours and fly-fishing expeditions. For wintertime adventures, look to Telluride Outfitters tellurideoutfitters.com who offer multiple daily snowmobile excursions throughout the surrounding area, where visitors can step back in time and learn about the Colorado gold rush at a mining ghost town or have a soak in the nearby Dunton hot springs. Paragon Bootdoctors bootdoctors.com offer fat bike rentals and guided bike tours through the San Juans, while local cowboy “Roudy Roudebush” ridewithroudy.com specializes in adventures by horseback and sleigh. It’s experiences like these that make Telluride such a unique destination, even among the world’s top ski towns. Thanks to a combination of rustic western charm, world-class hospitality and abundant natural beauty, Telluride shines like a gem in the rugged rocky mountains.
Embraer Quarterly · 23
CITY GUIDE
BUENOS AIRES
Quinoa served at El Baqueano restaurant
Buenos Aires is a mesmerizing cocktail that blends a dash of European flair with a heavy dose of Latin passion. Elegant mansions line cobblestone streets, drivers maneuver broad boulevards according to rules only they comprehend and the wild nightlife goes on until dawn. Porteños, as the local populace is called, have mastered the art of whiling away the hours at cafés, drinking espresso and arguing over politics or yesterday’s ‘futbol’ match. A chaotic, beautiful mess, it’s hard not to fall in love with Buenos Aires.
The Roman Suite at Be Jardín Escondido by Coppola
EMBRAER TIP Fly to Jorge Newbery Airport, Buenos Aires aboard the new ocean-crossing Praetor 600. From there, a driver takes you to the Alvear Palace in 15 min.
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HOTELS With its impressive mix of neoclassical, art deco, art nouveau, brutalism and other European architectural styles, it’s no surprise the city is often described as the Paris of South America. Many of these centuries-old buildings and mansions have been turned into sophisticated hotels, such as Algodon Mansion algodonhotels.com, a 1912 Belle Époque building in the upscale Recoleta neighborhood that features huge suites outfitted with B&B Italia furniture in a creamy palette of mocha and chocolate browns. There’s a Davidoff Lounge, a restaurant with an impressive wine list and a heated rooftop pool. Not far is Alvear Palace alvearpalace.com, another building in the same style that underwent a top-to-bottom renovation in 2016. The service is as flawless as ever and the décor features heavy doses of marble, lots of plush carpeting, crystal chandeliers, silk draperies and state-of-the-art technology like Jacuzzi bathrooms with plasma TVs and touchscreen telephones that control all in-room functions. For something entirely different, there’s Faena faena.com, where the experience begins as you walk through a 33-foot-tall entrance that leads you into the Path of Transformation—a long corridor of engraved glass and silk velvet curtains. Designed by Philippe Starck, the hotel’s interiors feature modern yet lavish touches including 18-carat gold leaf swan chairs, glass-enclosed bathrooms with marble floors and automated velvet curtains and Venetian blinds in every guestroom. At Home Hotel homebuenosaires.com, each of the unique rooms feature brushed concrete and understated Saarinen furnishings, vivid wallpapers depicting spring and autumn flower patterns and flower-filled window boxes. Nearby is Jardín Escondido thefamilycoppolahideaways.com, which Francis Ford Coppola called home while shooting his film Tetro. Inside are seven rooms, each named after members of the Coppola family and decorated with pieces the iconic director collected during his travels.
RESTAURANTS
WORDS Celeste Moure, IMAGES (clockwise from left) © Jardin Escondído, El Baqueano, Juan Hitters, © Faena Hotel Buenos Aires
Past the graffiti-covered walls and black door is Tegui tegui.com.ar, a lovely restaurant where chef Germán Martitegui offers an ever-changing menu depending on his mood and what’s in season. Reservations are a must. At Mishiguene mishiguene.com (meaning ‘crazy’ in Yiddish), chef Tomás Kalika draws inspiration from Sephardic, Ashkenazi and Middle Eastern flavors for his take on modern Jewish cuisine—think roasted cauliflower with labneh yogurt and tahina dipping sauces. The city’s only Relais & Châteaux restaurant is Chila chilarestaurant.com, where executive chef Pedro Bargero offers two sevencourse tasting menus that showcase the best of Argentine ingredients in dishes like Patagonian toothfish in an oyster sauce and pomegranate. For a handcrafted cocktail, head to Florería Atlántico floreriaatlantico.com.ar, a tiny basement speakeasy hidden beneath a downtown flower shop. The nautical theme pays tribute to the city’s 19th-century shipping history. El Baqueano restoelbaqueano.com is another fabulous choice, specializing in contemporary Argentine cuisine using the diverse abundance of ingredients the country has to offer.
ART SCENE In 1965, Ruth Benzacar ruthbenzacar.com transformed her home into a gallery space to showcase the contemporary art collection she and her husband had assembled over the years. These days, the gallery, which moved to a quiet Villa Crespo residential street, shows the work of established and emerging Argentine artists during five annual exhibitions. Since opening nearly two decades ago, Maman Fine Art mamanfineart.com. ar has become one of the most important galleries in the city while showcasing the work of established local artists—sculptor Raúl Farco and painter Luis Wells among others—and helping to launch the career of some of the most important figures in the Argentine art scene. Once a humble section of the city where Genoese immigrants lived in conventillos or tenements, La Boca is a vibrant neighborhood where everything from walls, lampposts, fire hydrants and even tree trunks are painted in vibrant shades of green, red, yellow, purple and blue. At the entrance to the colorful Caminito street is Fundacion Proa proa.org, a space devoted to promoting modern art, including the works of abstract Argentine artists. Meanwhile, the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA) malba.org.ar devotes an entire floor to a collection of more than 220 works of 19th- and 20th-century art from the continent. Impressive temporary exhibitions take place on other floors throughout the year.
Casa Cavia was built in 1927 by Alejandro Christophersen
SHOPS At Calzados Correa calzadoscorrea.com.ar, skilled artisans work with the best Argentine leather to craft modern and classic shoe styles by hand—the way they’ve been doing it since the Almagro store opened in 1955. Named for the stylish Palermo street on which it is located, Casa Cavia casacavia.com is a boutique concept store that brings together a chef, a bookseller and a florist under the roof of a 1920s residence. Take a seat in one of the home’s plush salons and flip through a book from the private library on the first floor or buy one on the second floor at Ampersand. Nearby is Enseres enseresbazar.net, an impeccably curated homeware and kitchen store showcasing handmade ceramics, delicate glassware, vintage cutlery and other wares displayed on rustic shelves like objets d’art. Each purchase is thoughtfully wrapped in craft paper and twine, with a recipe card tucked inside. Follow your nose to Fueguia 1833 fueguia.com, a stylish Recoleta boutique where founder and perfumer Julian Bedel pays homage to his native Argentina through the exploration of essences and natural botanical ingredients found across the land. Bedel produces scents in limited series, each fragrance hand packed in recycled glass containers and engraved with the lot number and year it was bottled.
Kitchen of El Mercado restaurant at Faena Hotel
Embraer Quarterly · 25
Jessica Naor Disruptive Influence
IMAGE © Volvo Car Group
Unbinding your Atlas A Revolution in Mobility Journey to Africa
PEOPLE & INNOVATION
CUSTOMER PROFILE
JESSICA NAOR Advantage sits down with Jessica Naor, Chief Marketing Officer of GrandView Aviation, for a glimpse into the company’s operations and growth ambitions
PERSONAL DIALOGUE An inspiration? I keep a picture of Otto Lilienthal (the first documented man to fly gliders) in my office with the phrase: “Dreamers leapt off the cliff.” He reminds me that great success takes risk. A quote? “Give yourselves to the air, to what you cannot hold.” – Rainer Maria Rilke A country? Ireland—I’m part Irish so there’s an emotional connection there. But it’s also such a beautiful, peaceful place with rolling green hills and kind, genuine people. A book? One of my all time favorites is “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway. A mentor? My husband, Dan. He is my best friend, my partner in life and business, and has inspired me and encouraged me over the last nine years together.
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GrandView Aviation started as a helicopter company. You joined it to expand the business. What got you into this industry? I come from a family of aviators, so I was born with jet fuel in my blood—our family weekends were usually spent at air shows or running around in my dad’s Cessna 172. My mom was a flight attendant for Piedmont Airlines and my Dad was a flight instructor and an air traffic controller in the Air Force and FAA. Following in his footsteps, I enrolled in an air traffic control program in Maryland and later studied aviation management at Embry-Riddle. Like most in this industry, it’s a true passion for me and hearing jet engines firing up every day in our hangar always puts a huge smile on my face.
Your company acquired its first light jet, an Embraer Phenom 300, in 2013. What motivated you to extend your business from only owning and operating helicopters? Jets were not part of our original business model. The helicopter operation primarily flies organ transplant teams, as well as VIP charters, and our transplant clients would regularly ask us to expand into fixed wing service. When we added the Phenom 300 to our fleet mix, we saw tremendous demand for charter flights, and we’ve been adding a Phenom 300 to the fleet each year to keep up with charter and transplant transportation demand.
Why is the Phenom 300 the best choice of aircraft for your company? We do not manage aircraft; we own and operate them, so aircraft utilization and dispatch reliability are key to our success. Embraer’s pedigree of producing high-utilization airliners, the Phenom 300’s great ramp presence and exceptional cabin space and luggage capacity, plus its performance stats and high-cycle lifespan, made it a clear choice for us to build a high-usage charter fleet.
Left Jessica Naor joined GrandView Aviation in 2010
IMAGES © GrandView Aviation
Right The Phenom 300 offers the ultimate combination of speed, comfort, and range
Embraer Quarterly · 29
CUSTOMER PROFILE
You introduced Phenom 300 membership earlier in 2018. Can you tell us more about this program?
What are you doing to ensure that you continue to grow and develop as a leader?
You don’t need to be a member to fly with us—if you want a trip, we send you an all-in price for that trip. The annual membership is nominal and gives frequent fliers access to flight discounts, catering credits and other perks. Our motto is ‘fly it like you own it,’ which means no major upfront and ongoing costs for a personalized, premium charter experience. You pay for what you need, when you need it, and our membership programs reward frequent fliers with discounts and incentives that outweigh the annual fee.
To me, the greatest leaders are authentic, introspective and naturally curious. I’m a voracious learner. I recently completed my MBA in Management and Finance at Johns Hopkins University; doing an MBA and building a high-growth startup has been a very challenging, but an incredible learning experience. I’ve been on the edge of my seat, soaking up as much information as possible to apply immediately to the business and I’ve been deeply examining my personal vision for myself as a leader.
How is this membership making GrandView an innovator in the business jet industry?
As companies expand, there is a risk that the focus on “corporation” starts to dampen the company’s original soul; how do you and your leadership prevent this?
As we shifted to a jet fleet, our company’s vision has changed, and our membership programs center around this vision. To fly modern, private aircraft with features like Wi-Fi, in the past, many consumers would have to buy an aircraft or pay for a card program upfront—we want to deliver incredible on-demand charter services with no major financial commitments beyond the price of the trip. There’s a lot of pressure to expand into new fleet types, but having a common fleet of Phenom 300s reduces our crew, maintenance and training costs and gives our clients a consistent experience.
With any growth comes change, and this can be unsettling if your team doesn’t feel supported during the changes. Constant communication of your vision and giving others an opportunity to contribute to that vision is key to maintaining a positive company culture. We do this through team-bonding events at least once a quarter, an online employee communication portal and many other tools. We’re always looking for ways to create two-way feedback between leadership and team members. In all, we want
IMAGE © GrandView Aviation
Right GrandView operates a fleet of Phenom 300s as well as helicopters
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Left GrandView offers free Wi-Fi access in all its fleet of Phenom 300
GrandView Aviation to be a place where people can pursue their passion, grow their skills and love coming to work every day.
How do you operate to keep building your personal relationships with your customers? Our crew members and sales team have very strong bonds with our clients. We are responsible for our customers’ safety and their comfort, and we do not take this mission lightly. It’s not unusual for crews to bring flowers for a passenger’s birthday or have their favorite liquor on board without instructions from the company; this is because our team members are completely empowered to delight passengers and build personal connections with them. We track customer preferences to give them a personalized experience, but honestly, the best way to build customer relationships is by hiring people who care and give them what they need to excel.
What is the vision for GrandView Aviation’s future fleet? Today, we primarily serve arrivals and departures in a 250-mile radius from our bases in Texas and Maryland. To serve more customer needs and optimize our routing, we need more bases throughout the U.S. Our experience to date with Embraer has been excellent and at present we plan on maintaining our common-fleet model of Phenom 300s as we scale to new regions.
What do you think are the keys to developing the next generation of leaders in the aviation industry? I believe we would have more innovative, visionary leaders in our industry if we are able to increase the diversity of the workforce. Only seven percent of pilots are female and even in non-flying aviation careers, like dispatchers, less than 19 percent are women. I was fortunate to be exposed to aviation from a very early age; I was given more model airplanes to play with than dolls, but this isn’t the case for a lot of women and minorities. I would love to see more education programs and efforts to help expose more people to aviation.
What was your biggest failure and what did you learn from that experience? I can’t pinpoint my biggest failure but one of my personal mantras, especially in marketing and business strategy, is “fail harder.” There have been setbacks for me, but innovation comes from experimentation, and failure is just a byproduct. I think people often let failure affect their self-worth and confidence, but it should be treated as a tool for growth. Create something, test it and if it fails, make it better.
“
We track customer preferences to give them a personalized experience, but honestly, the best way to build customer relationships is by hiring people who care and give them what they need to excel.
”
Embraer Quarterly · 31
PHILANTHROPY
DISRUPTIVE INFLUENCE Modern pioneers of the tech industry are changing the game in philanthropy, using data and algorithms to boost interest in their causes
E
lon Musk’s technology companies made him a millionaire in his twenties. His involvement in Zip2, x.com and PayPal generated enough capital that he was able to begin investing in projects some might see as outrageous: advancing rocket technology through SpaceX; revolutionizing the electric car market through Tesla; and financing SolarCity, an effort at generating more efficient solar energy. Musk’s business endeavors are just that—businesses—but they are often (aside from perhaps his Boring Company’s limited run of branded flamethrowers) based on a desire to spark positive change. “I read a lot of science fiction as a kid,” he once told a UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office roundtable, “and tried to think about the future and the problems that needed to be solved to make it a bright future.” Even the fuelhungry SpaceX project has a lofty aim: Musk says it puts humanity “on the path of extending life beyond Earth.” Musk is by no means alone. Technology’s big money has spawned numerous moguls inspired to use their fortunes for good. 32 · Advantage Vol5 2019
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have pledged 99% of their company shares—worth an estimated USD 45 billion—to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which invests in science, education and equality. Napster founder Sean Parker, later president of Facebook and Spotify board member, chairs his own Parker Foundation, donating money towards life sciences, public health and civic engagement efforts. There are countless more, but most notable is probably Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and frequent topper of the Forbes wealthy list. He began making significant charitable donations in 1994, apparently inspired by the work of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockerfeller. Later teaming with his wife, the couple created the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, focused on improving global healthcare and education. It is now the largest private foundation in the United States, with an estimated endowment of USD 50.7 billion in 2017. In 2010, the couple also joined Warren Buffet in creating the Giving Pledge, multi-generational scheme where
WORDS Alex Cox, IMAGES (left) Courtesy of Gates Foundation / Goalkeepers 2018, (below) © Gates Archive / Ryan Lobo
2017’s TOP CHARITABLE DONATIONS Bill & Melinda Gates (Microsoft): USD 4.8 billion Mark Zuckerberg & Priscilla Chan (Facebook): USD 2 billion Michael & Susan Dell (Dell Computers): USD 1 billion
As of Q4 2017, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has made USD 45.5 billion in total grant payments How much people gave, by source of wealth: Technology: USD 8,681,335,200 All others: USD 6,066,516,655
the wealthy can pledge to dedicate the majority of their personal capital to philanthropic causes; it already includes over 187 of the world’s wealthiest individuals and families.
Left Goalkeepers 2018 is a campaign organized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Below Children wait to be vaccinated against measles and rubella in Kolar, India
Some of the Giving Pledge’s youngest signatories are in their 30s, which is, in the most part, a reflection on a major strategy change in the philanthropy landscape. The involvement of big names in technology, often brash and youthful, has changed the philosophy and execution of giving, with tech itself (and the experienced teams behind many big technology projects) used to tackle increasingly more complex humanitarian investments. Elon Musk, as an example, has backed numerous projects that utilize technology developed within his companies. SolarCity’s energy banks have been donated to disaster recovery centers; Tesla’s Powerwall battery packs aided Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria. That Musk’s donations also generated publicity for his businesses is no coincidence. Tech investors have long been subverting the very concept of philanthropy, often backing projects with the expectation of some return or equity should that project bear fruit, a so-called venture philanthropy approach. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, to give one of many examples across Silicon Valley, is not a charity—it was founded as a for-profit LLC, to create a higher level of control over those funds and blur the lines between philanthropy and straight investment.
Tech’s entrepreneurs also seek out projects rather than waiting for causes to come to them and use a solid base in data analysis to encourage solid results. Facebook’s Dustin Moskovitz is one of the supporters of the Open Philanthropy Project, a research group that investigates potential focus areas and giving opportunities, invests in them, and later shares the results freely so that future projects can benefit from them. The philosophies that have worked for many in the tech business—rapid prototyping, being unafraid of risk and dreaming big—mean what was once an all-in philosophy has been replaced by a cyclical approach to philanthropy. To quote Sean Parker: “We must move fast, make concentrated bets based on our convictions and have the courage to make mistakes and learn from them.” Dreaming big also means outlandish investments; PayPal cofounder Peter Theil, along with Google’s Larry Page and Oracle’s Larry Ellison, has heavily backed anti-aging research (“Evolution is a true account of nature, but I think we should try to escape it,” says Thiel), while The Gates Foundation’s global health research focuses not on controlling malaria but eradicating the disease completely. There is risk in modern philanthropy, just as there is risk in the sometimes youthful hubris of many of the investors propping it up. As Bill Gates said in his 1995 book “The Road Ahead”: “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.” Whether the new disruptive approach to philanthropy will change science and society in the future remains to be seen—but as with any new technology, it is the beginning of a road that will write its own map.
Embraer Quarterly · 33
PROGRESS
UNBINDING YOUR ATLAS Atlas Unbound brings travelers together to discover Mexico’s extraordinary landscapes with a dedication to bring people back into the wild
P
icture yourself slowly waking up to the sound of a crackling fire and howler monkeys, the sighing of a breeze in the tree boughs and the smell of freshly ground coffee drifting into your tent. You emerge, the thick canopy of the Mayan jungle suspended overhead. Or perhaps you are perched on your trekking poles above a sweeping canyon, gazing far into the folds of the Earth, where crevasses jagged and eternal stretch as far as the eye can see. There is a rapture in the pathless woods, as Lord Byron once wrote, and indeed, rapture and even a pathless wood are becoming harder and harder to come by in our modern age. We are currently living the Anthropocene, a time of unparalleled influence of human activity on the face of the Earth. It is a fascinating time to be alive. It is also perhaps one of the most treacherous. Ever more connected through our handheld devices and streamlined lifestyles, we are now less in touch with other forms of connection just as essential for our intrinsic well-being. Our lack of intimate relationship with nature and the vast landscapes and creatures that exist beyond daily existence limit our experiences of rapture and leave us feeling somewhat perturbed, if not isolated. As we fly across continents there is always a moment of suspension between worlds; we gaze out of the plane window, spellbound at the contours of mountain ranges, the fractal forms of river beds, cloud cover over dense rainforests and sensuous fjords. Sometimes we yearn to be down there in the midst of it all, not just passing by. This desire lies deep within all of us—it is quite literally encoded in our evolutionary genetic make-up. Atlas Unbound was created to bring participants back into that place of wonder and connection. The Mexico-based company brings global leaders, change-makers, creative 34 · Advantage Vol5 2019
“
Nature conveys a profound message—that we are always in relationship. In the wild, one can go beyond the mind and truly embody teachings about impermanence, regeneration, stillness and self-discovery. Alexa Firmenich, Co-founder, Atlas Unbound
”
Left Atlas Unbound creates immersive experiences that inspire the discovery of hidden lands
WORDS Alexa Firmenich, IMAGES © Alexa Firmenich
Below Plunged into the wilderness, participants learn from the wisdom of nature
Embraer Quarterly · 35
PROGRESS
mavericks and executives on innovation quests deep into the wilderness, to be immersed within and learn from the wisdom of nature’s systems, asking sticky questions and animating conversations relating to regenerative futures and sustainable practices. Their learning journeys are geared towards those who are curious about what lies beyond the veil, what parts of themselves can be brought out into life, challenged, invigorated and inspired. The transformational travel industry is booming. More executives than ever are acknowledging the need to take time away from their desks in favor of greater balance and wisdom, seeking an antidote to the ceaseless treadmill of daily life. In this context, going back into nature can be one of the most powerful tools out there; it is a mirror into our own systems, a template of billions of years of resilience and evolution. To quote Albert Einstein: “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” There are two kinds of journeys that Atlas Unbound offers. The first is a curated group experience of hand-picked individuals from all walks of life (the CEO of a Fortune 500 company may well be rubbing shoulders with an emerging climate leader) and often facilitated by the company’s founders Alexa Firmenich and Siobhan Brewster. Group size is kept intimate to around 12 participants, and the price per person ranges at USD 3,000 and above for three to five days. Their journeys venture deep into sublime landscapes and explore living dynamics, integrating elements of nature reconnection, leadership work and ancient and indigenous knowledge. 36 · Advantage Vol5 2019
EMBRAER TIP Explore Mexico aboard the Phenom 300E by Embraer, the fastest, longest range singlepilot aircraft that can carry up to 11 occupants.
IMAGES © Alexa Firmenich
Then there are journeys geared towards executive teams and corporations. Well beyond the realm of a traditional offsite, here, the emphasis is placed on learning from intelligent living systems and complexity thinking, understanding how universal patterns and principles of nature—abundance, flow, emergence and resilience, for example—can be applied back to individual and collective sensemaking.
Above Atlas Unbound animates conversations relating to positive social and environmental impact Below Every Atlas Unbound journey harnesses the power of local networks
Some readers may indeed have already have come across such biomimetic strategies. How are we to align with the natural intelligence that is conducive to the long-term flourishing of life? What kinds of businesses and evolutionary leadership skills should we cultivate for the world of tomorrow? And actually, what does a regenerative business and mindset even look like? Inspiration from the living world abounds, such as in the intricacy of forests’ decentralized mycelium root networks or the closedloop feedback systems of coastal mangroves. Atlas Unbound helps participants identify such examples within nature and considers their practical application as an exercise in moving beyond our wasteful economy. Siobhan worked for many years in infrastructure and energy, struggling with the lack of concern for our
greater ecosystem: “If we cannot understand the interconnectedness of our actions and processes, we will find it impossible to commercialize sustainability and regenerative practices on the scale necessary to meet the demands of tomorrow.” There is an additional, and important, layer to this. “Mindfulness has become the word on everybody’s lips today; an endless array of meditation apps, fitness regimes and bio-hacks populate our inboxes. This is excellent, but it can also miss the mark. Increased ‘mindfulness’ is also a state of being that goes far beyond the art of destressing and workplace optimization. It is a fundamental recognition of our human role on the planet and thus our relationship with other forms of life.”
Swiss-born Alexa Firmenich, whose experiences in the world of climate change fueled her passion to co-found Atlas Unbound, tells us, “We need to experience things in order to truly care about protecting them. We cannot care about that which we do not know. Nature conveys a profound message—that we are always in relationship with it. In the wild, one can go beyond the mind and truly embody teachings about impermanence, regeneration, stillness and self-discovery.” Atlas Unbound’s experiences range from the sweeping canyons of the Barrancas del Cobre in Northern Mexico, home to the native Tarahumara tribe, all the way to the southern jungles of Chiapas, where ancient Mayan temples lie submerged above secret lakes. Their Baja California journey explores the power of contrasts and brings participants from the ochrered deserts to the glimmering Mar de Cortez to glamp on desert islands. Accommodations and immersions vary journey by journey, and by the careful curation of the group’s collective intentions. Every participant must have an interview with one of the co-founders in order to attend. Their current journeys are centered around Mexico and Central America, with emerging locations planned further afield for the coming year. As their motto goes, “Embrace the thrill of the unknown.”
Embraer Quarterly · 37
INNOVATION
A REVOLUTION IN MOBILITY As technology advances, driverless vehicles are no longer simply blueprints on a piece of paper but are already transforming the way we move
T
he 20th century brought with it a revolution in mobility with the commercialization of both automotive and air travel. Mankind went from traveling via foot or horseback to engine-powered machines that were faster, could take us further and that transformed the way we built our cities. But what comes next? There has yet to be another revolution in the way we get from A to B more or less since the Wright brothers first achieved powered flight. Surely, we can travel further and more comfortably than ever before thanks to the efforts of companies like Embraer, whose forward-thinking approach make air travel a breeze. But for short-haul travel, are there maybe better ways to get where we need to be than being stuck behind the wheel for several hours? Perhaps one can look towards autonomous vehicles—selfdriving automobiles powered by artificial intelligence.
WORDS Nicholas Thompson, IMAGES © Volvo Car Group
Though still in its relative infancy, it’s no longer limited to the realm of science fiction to envisage picking up your smartphone and tapping in your destination, only to be picked up a few minutes later by a vehicle that will take you wherever you need to be. The technology already exists— and manufacturers today are pushing the boundaries of autonomous travel to develop prototypes that would be the envy of even the Jetsons. Left Travel overnight with a sleeper vehicle that takes you from home to your final destination
Volvo’s 360c autonomous concept provides a glimpse into this future. The Swedish manufacturer has been a leader in autonomous driving, with supervised driving functionalities available in their current fleet of vehicles. Now, they aim to release their first fully autonomous unsupervised car by 2021. “We believe that mobility should be safer, sustainable and more convenient,” says Volvo. “That’s why our approach to autonomous driving is all about the people that will use them. Our future cars will be able to navigate without human input, equipped with sensors that read the surroundings, adapting to changing traffic conditions.” The 360c concept vehicle incorporates some of the same aspects of a private jet, with models designed for work, play and sleep.
Above The Volvo 360c offers a standardized autonomous vehicle communication system
Of course, Volvo isn’t the only one who has envisioned the suite on wheels. The Autonomous Travel Suite (ATS), brainchild of the Toronto-based architect Steve Lee, serves as a mobile hotel room. Combining his experience in hotel design and architecture with his passion for innovative technology, Lee’s concept won the 2018 Radical Innovation Award—a hospitality design competition. “As an architect, I see self-driving vehicles as more being like
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INNOVATION
Left The Autonomous Travel Suite is equipped with sleeping, working, and washroom facilities Right Aston Martin’s Lagonda Vision Concept elevates autonomous driving to the next level Below The Lagonda’s interior is designed by renowned designer David Snowden
a mobile room,” said Lee in an interview. His ATS is designed to carry passengers on journeys between six and 10 hours and comes in a range of sizes to accommodate all sorts of travelers. Current restraints in infrastructure mean the suites will not be on public roads for at least another decade, but Lee believes that East and West Coast cities in the United States would be possible candidates for early adoption. Autonomous vehicle concepts are not only limited to longer journeys, though. Logistical disruptors such as Uber and Tesla have already started exploring full autonomy in select cities, though not without issue. Accidents involving the two companies’ respective autonomous and driver-assistance systems in the past year have caused a rise in skepticism towards the nascent driverless-car industry. What was once nothing short of hype has given way to a new period of cautious optimism as the industry continues to explore how to bring the technology into the mainstream. Some believe that it will be decades before driverless cars could replace human drivers. Others, however, remain optimistic, touting the potential for autonomous vehicles to improve
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safety due to lack of human error behind the wheel, increase the efficiency of our roads and infrastructure and reduce congestion throughout cities all over the globe. The vision for autonomous vehicles isn’t limited to practicality, however. Even luxury manufacturers are expanding operations to include driverless vehicles. Aston Martin’s Lagonda Vision Concept elevates autonomous driving to the next level, fusing technology and luxury underneath a single hood. The interiors of the vehicle are designed by renowned designer David Snowden, and the custom seats have been designed together with Savile Row tailor Henry Poole. These emission-free vehicles are planned to launch in 2021, and its design is commensurated with level four autonomous driving, meaning the car is capable of driving itself in all routine circumstances and on all recognizable roads. As a result, the steering wheel can not only move from left to right hand drive according to need, in autonomous mode it can also retract entirely allowing front seat passengers to rotate through 180 degrees to engage in face to face conversation with those in the back. In the meantime, the car will
not only have 360-degree awareness of the world around it, but also be fully connected to it, allowing occupants unprecedented access to bespoke concierge services and a level of connectivity and cyber security few enjoy in their own homes, let alone their cars.
IMAGES (top left) © Aprilli Design Studio, © Lagonda
“We believe people associate luxury in their cars with a certain traditional and even old-fashioned approach because, to date, that is all that’s been available to them,” commented Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy Palmer. “Lagonda exists to challenge that thinking and prove that being modern and luxurious are not mutually exclusive concepts.” Despite some initial setbacks, there is still much promise in the realm of autonomous vehicles. The standard may yet to be set, but as we look towards the future, there is little doubt that we are entering a new age in mobility. Whatever happens, the way we commute, run errands and even drive to the country house for the weekend is changing rapidly. It’s full speed ahead.
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COMPANY PROFILE
JOURNEY TO AFRICA Debbie and Ty Jenkins discover the continent with Air Journey in their Phenom 300
What led you to choose to fly a Phenom 300? The Phenom 300 is a single pilot airplane with a long range, single-point refueling, externally serviceable lavatory, large luggage compartment and comfortable cabin. Before the Phenom 300, I flew a Socata TBM as a personal aircraft and for business I flew a Citation 10 as well as a BeechJet Nextant. These were two-crew airplanes.
Why a flight to Africa? We’ve wanted to visit Africa for a long time. When we saw Air Journey offering a circumnavigation of the continent with the idea of flying our own airplane, it was a dream come true.
Why Air Journey? We are flying with a group of airplanes, which brings a high level of comfort. We don’t have to worry about being alone and are able to talk to each other during the flight. Every aspect of the flight is reviewed prior to departure: every authorization, overflight and parking is arranged in advance, and all the flight planning, paperwork, hotels, sightseeing, etc. is done by Air Journey. The concept is that we spend a minimum amount of time at the airport on arrival and departure.
Flightpath? Crossing of the Atlantic on my own has always been on my bucket list. What made the journey to Africa interesting is the flight crossing the Atlantic via the Azores. With the installed High Frequency Radio, the Phenom 300 gave us a unique opportunity to visit these remote islands. The return was done by the most conservative northern crossing over Iceland and Greenland.
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Left Air Journey creates custom itineraries to the world’s greatest destinations Right Debbie and Ty Jenkins discovered the African continent on board their Phenom 300 Below With an altitude of more than 19,000 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak
The most unique accommodations?
Tell us about the packing experience.
Without a doubt that must be in Namibia on the Skeleton Coast—the Shipwreck Lodge. The name tells it all, and it took us a two-hour Cessna Caravan flight plus one-and-a-half-hour land cruiser crossing over the dunes to get to our Shipwreck accommodation.
This was our first experience with Air Journey, and we took too many clothes, but not a problem with the cavernous luggage capabilities of the Phenom 300. We learned a lot and now realize that we overpacked. We’ll do better on the next journey.
The most interesting lodge?
And the flight experience?
That has to be in Botswana—the Khwai River Lodge, in the Moremi Park. Imagine our surprise when we saw an elephant only 20 feet away from our deck.
The journey itself was met with excellent weather. We only had to do an Instrument Landing System approach into Jersey Island, in the Channel Islands, off the coast of France. Certainly the most interesting one was the ASR (radar surveillance approach) in Gibraltar, where you are directed by the ground controller.
The best hotel? This is a difficult question, but the first one that comes to mind is La Mamounia in Marrakech—comfort, luxury and attention to details make it divine. It’s followed close by the Eden Hotel in Rome in the center of the city, not far away from the Spanish Steps and all the shopping. All of the other accommodations were also amazing.
Your next journey? We are looking very closely at a journey around the world. Air Journey is offering an 11-week, 27-country journey of a lifetime in May.
IMAGES © Air Journey
Camera for the journey? The Nikon COOLPIX P1000—completely automatic, extended battery but most important a 3000mm lens, and all of that in one body—no lenses to change.
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IMAGE © Lance Gerber / Courtesy Phillip K. Smith III Studio
History on a Plate Sculpting a Collection A Helping Hand Winter Equestrian Festival Buildings in the Sand
LIFESTYLE
EPICUREAN
HISTORY ON A PLATE As Cape Town has a well-deserved reputation as the culinary capital of Africa, the chefs who live there are delving into the region’s rich gastronomic history
C
ape Town is often described as the southernmost city in Europe. And while the city’s café culture, expensive beachfront restaurants, Mediterranean climate and wine obsession certainly bring to mind some of France and Italy’s most sumptuous spots, its top chefs would debate that claim. While they have made Cape Town one of the top foodie cities in the world, their menus focus heavily on South African flavors. It has been a long and complicated journey to get to this point. For years, South Africa—a country with 11 official languages—had no idea what its national cuisine was. Apartheid must shoulder a lot of the blame for this. Up until 1994, South Africa operated under minority rule, which meant that any non-white tradition was deemed irrelevant. And as a result, the rich world of Cape Malay, Indian, Zulu, Xhosa and Khoisan cooking was swept aside in mainstream restaurants for a focus on European finedining. “Apartheid meant that none of us could go abroad or even explore our own heritage, so we were all stuck here cooking the same things over and over,” says Chris Erasmus, the head chef at the award-winning Franschhoek-based restaurant, Foliage foliage.co.za. “I grew up in Malmesbury [a small town in the Western Cape] and during my younger years as a chef, I felt trapped, like I was missing out on the reality of my own country and the rest of the world.” Today, Foliage is on the ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list and is a wonderful illustration of exactly how far South Africa has come in the last 25 years. Diners can look into the open kitchen, which is staffed by Xhosa, Zulu, Afrikaans and English chefs, all of whom incorporate family recipes into the seasonal menu. Erasmus himself has been studying the culinary traditions and the foraging techniques of the Khoisan people, a group made up of San hunter-gatherers and the KhoiKhoi
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Left At the Test Kitchen, food is based on popular global dishes with South African ingredients
of the Northern Cape. After the lunch shift, he and his team wander the nearby Drakenstein mountains to forage for ingredients and incorporate them into recipes such as saltbush lamb stew and honey mead pudding.
WORDS Melissa Twigg, IMAGES © Justin Patrick
Above Opened in 2010, The Test Kitchen is a pioneer in contemporary South African cuisine
“
We have everything here— incredible produce, the space and the landscape to create beautiful restaurants, talented chefs and a diverse, unique range of food traditions. Luke Dale-Roberts, Owner, The Test Kitchen
And while Erasmus’ focus on Khoisan cooking is unusual, many chefs in Cape Town make heavily flavored food. The Spice Route has been integral to making South African cuisine what it is today, not least because during the 17th and 18th centuries, the Dutch East India Company imported thousands of Javanese and South Indian slaves to work on Cape farms. Their descendants adapted their food traditions and turned them into the sweet, spicy, flavor-filled Cape Malay cuisine that is loved by millions of South Africans today.
”
High-end restaurants have also caught on, eschewing European food for Cape Malay-focused menus, which was previously only served in smaller restaurants around Cape Town. Jonkershuis is set in a grand Cape Dutch house in the famous Groot Constantia wine estate and boasts not only a resident baboon population but sweeping views down to the beaches of Muizenberg. And from its pretty terrace, guests can order dishes with evocative names such as ‘Angry Beef Samosa’ and ‘Spicy Sultana and Almond Turmeric Stew.’
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EPICUREAN
EMBRAER TIP Explore Africa and fly into Cape Town in the Phenom 100EV, carrying up to 8 passengers. Reach the Silo Hotel in a short 28 min drive.
Left Salsify is a brand new restaurant located at the historic Round House Below Salsify restaurant focuses on ‘root to leaf’ and fish dishes Right General Manager Markus Fiedler, Chef Ryan Cole and Chef Luke DaleRoberts
For South African cooking in an haute cuisine setting, few places can beat Salsify salsify.co.za at the Roundhouse, in Cape Town’s Camps Bay. In the oval shaped dining room, racing green French doors are left open, so diners can gaze out, slack-jawed, at the jagged mountains of the Twelve Apostles and the white sand beaches. The food will prove equally distracting. The tasting menu is a thing of beauty, with seven exquisitely made courses ranging from fireroasted asparagus to scallops with Cape Malay salsa and linefish with a fynbos garnish. Each dish comes with a wine pairing including some excellent vintages such as the award-winning Thorne & Daughters ‘Rocking Horse’ and the Domaine des Dieux Chardonnay. If you’re in the mood for spirits, a barman will rock up at your table with a silver platter containing an array of South African-made gins, which are mixed with local tonics and sprigs of fynbos picked in the surrounding mountains. The chef at Salsify is Ryan Cole—a young South African with a dazzling career ahead—although the restaurant is overseen by the now domestically renowned Luke DaleRoberts, who is also owner of the critically acclaimed The Test Kitchen thetestkitchen.co.za. Dale-Roberts is a firm believer that South Africa is set to become a major gastronomic player.
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IMAGES (left, below) © Justin Patrick, (right) © Andy Lund
“We have everything here—incredible produce, the space and the landscape to create beautiful restaurants, talented chefs and a diverse, unique range of food traditions,” he says. “And slowly we’re getting the confidence to stop copying the trends coming out of Europe and branching out on our own.” The sister restaurant to the Test Kitchen, the Pot Luck Club thepotluckclub.co.za, sits on the sixth floor of a silo building overlooking the graffitied streets below and the shimmering harbor in the distance. Here, Dale-Roberts serves a more casual menu, focused on small plates like beef fillet with chocolate and coffee sauce or a nectarine almond tart served with malted-popcorn ice cream. The enthusiasm of the chefs, the sommeliers and the waiting staff at all these restaurants is palpable. And when you sit in of the city’s cleverly designed new restaurants, with Table Mountain looming somewhere in the distance and a glass of chilled local wine and a creative menu in front of you, it is impossible not to share in the delight of these talented South Africans.
WHERE TO STAY The Silo With Table Mountain somewhere above your head and Africa’s best museum sitting below your feet, The Silo is a feast for the eyes and the brain. Views from each bedroom are extraordinary—whether you pick a harbor or town-front view. And don’t miss the peacock-colored bar, where glamorous locals sip cocktails behind an even more glamorous backdrop. theroyalportfolio.com Babylonstoren This 500-acre Cape Dutch wine and fruit farm has been transformed into one of the loveliest places in Cape Town to spend the day or night in. The grounds are an attraction in their own right, filled with ripe plum trees, banks of hydrangeas and towering cactuses, while the 12 cottage suites are beautiful and airy with thoughtful touches such as fynbos in the bathroom and bookshelves filled with South African literature. babylonstoren.com The Mount Nelson The grandest of the grande dame hotels of South Africa, the Mount Nelson is a Cape Town institution and a pretty-in-pink tribute to a past era. With wooden floors, ceiling fans in all the rooms, a deep pool under the shadow of Table Mountain and a long veranda to have afternoon tea on, it plays to every stereotype you’ve ever had about colonial life in Africa. belmond.com
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ART
SCULPTING A COLLECTION Within the world of art collecting, investing in sculpture is more about preserving a legacy than it is about personal gains
I
n today’s slightly choppy waters, investing in art is often seen as a calm cruise liner, albeit one you know will reach its destination worth slightly more than when you set sail. Each passing year, records are broken at auction for both living and deceased artists and competition is on to create a portfolio that’s as successful as some venture capital investments. While private purchases of artists like Jeff Koons, Antony Gormley, Anish Kapoor and Henry Moore have generated multiple headlines over the last decade, sculpture collecting is often combined with an added sense of philanthropy and a desire to find a public space in which to keep the art. One of the medium’s most avid private collectors and gallery owners, Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand, opened a public sculpture park in the south of France in 2015 where he could—along with his son—showcase their modern collection amongst pine groves and cork trees. Domaine Du Muy domainedumuy.com is a visual tribute to the global tribe of contemporary sculptors working in many different materials and showcases what can be done by private owners who wish to share the joy they have in sculpture. Irish entrepreneur and hotelier Patrick McKillen has embarked on a similar path. Not only is Château La Coste chateau-la-coste.com a five-star vineyard in Provence, it’s also a paeon to large scale, abstract and contemporary sculpture. The chateau is complemented by ultra-modern glass and concrete architecture that affords views over McKillen’s private art collection—a passion project that is only matched by his love of running some of the world’s finest hotels (The Connaught and Claridge’s being two of them). Since it opened to the public in 2011, McKillen has amassed an incredible collection of work from sculptors like Tracey Emin, Louise Bourgeois and Richard Serra, often securing a purchase from the artist because of his commitment to 50 · Advantage Vol5 2019
Center Louise Bourgeois, “Crouching Spider” (2003) at Château La Coste Right Tadao Ando, Art Center (2011) at Château La Coste
displaying the work publicly. McKillen’s passion shines through each purchase. He often commissions a star architect to partner on creating a bespoke home for each piece—he brought in Jean Nouvel to create a suitable home for Bourgeois’ biggest sculpture, three 30-foot towers that make up “I Do, I Un-Do, I Re-Do”—first displayed in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall.
WORDS Georgina Wilson-Powell, IMAGES © Andrew Pattman, © Château la Coste, © Qatar Museum Authority
While he didn’t set out to create a sculpture park, McKillen’s story isn’t so unusual to those who love and collect sculptures, especially large-scale ones. They do so because of the pleasure they can bring the people who see them. Sculpture by its very nature is designed to be gazed upon, walked round, studied from different angles. And for that you need space—and an audience. Another prominent art collector who has definitely shifted the art world from its old school hangouts of western Europe towards the Middle East, is Her Excellency Sheikha Mayassa Al-Thani. She is another serious art player who sees the longterm value in sharing sculpture with the public. She has said: “Through displaying various forms of art in public space, we aim to inspire local talent and establish an
organic connection between art and the local community.” In her role as chairperson of the Qatar Museum Authority qm.org.qa, she has overseen some incredible purchases and installation of sculptures into both Doha’s parks and museums. “Smoke”, an enormous aluminum sculpture piece by American artist Tony Smith, now greets visitors to the Doha Exhibition & Conference Center while the Museum of Islamic Art Park is home to Richard Serra’s largest landscape specific piece, simply entitled “7”. While some investors and collectors obviously look at the top raft of sculpture artists as a secure investment into something physical, what is more in keeping with the medium is that many of these collectors—often at the top of their game in their own industries—understand that investing in sculpture is much like owning a racehorse. It’s not enough to invest in the physical item, but there’s a lot that goes with that responsibility as well: displaying the piece, looking after it and sharing the joy that it brings. It’s not so much a status purchase to hang in your home but a more mature philanthropic effort to inspire, educate and support.
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
A HELPING HAND Embraer employees make a difference by giving back to their communities
PAWAN GAIKWAD, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER
CAROLYN TURNER, TECHNICAL WRITER
I volunteer for a number of organizations, from tutoring students to delivering baskets of food to families in need. It’s always been important to me to give back to the community. Some of the organizations I volunteer for include Club Esteem, Space Coast Basket Brigade, Codecrafter Foundation, Groundswell, Eau Gallie Art District and Habitat for Humanity.
Recycle Brevard is a non-profit organization that works to educate the public—online and through community events—and to introduce recycling programs to schools in Brevard County. I wanted to find an education-focused organization that was involved in the local community that was run mainly or entirely by volunteers. My background is in education and I know that the need for volunteers is enormous.
The people and the community around me inspired me to volunteer. I am a social person, and after working a regular job and living a routine life for over 15 years, I started to feel that I needed to give back to the community. Volunteering helps the community grow and develop for the next generation. It also feels great knowing that I’m giving back. Every single volunteering endeavor gives me happiness and makes me proud to be part of such a great community. If I had to choose one volunteering endeavor that I am most proud of, I would choose the Space Coast Basket Brigade. We package, decorate and hand-deliver Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. Seeing the smiles on peoples’ faces is incredibly rewarding. I love to see people happy. I have an engineering degree with an MBA background, and this work has let me experience different cultures around the world; but nothing makes me happier than when I can set work aside and volunteer with different local organizations.
I have volunteered for other organizations over the years— the Boy Scouts, FIRST Robotics Club, North Brevard Sharing Center and Habitat for Humanity, to name just a few. In a previous life, I was a teacher and an instructional designer for online learning. With this experience, I have created an educational program for elementary school that can be used to teach young children about the importance of recycling and the dangers presented by carelessly disposing of plastic waste. I am proud to have been involved with many different volunteer organizations, but I am by far most delighted to be a part of Brevard Recycle.
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SALMA KHAIRANE, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE I was introduced to The Palms Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Palm Bay through a friend. Every year, we collect blankets, books and personalized gifts. Then, we visit the nursing home during the holiday season. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of something bigger and that is meaningful to others, something that puts smiles on faces and brings hope in life. Some residents don’t get much interaction apart from those with the doctors and nurses at these homes. Having a fresh face brightens their routine and brings a smile back to their spirit. Volunteering is good for the heart and the soul, but specifically, in a nursing home, it is an opportunity to give back from one generation to another. Many of the residents are veterans, former teachers and social workers who once gave to the community.
JENNIFER PIERCE, CUSTOMER SUPPORT WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR During my 10 years with Embraer, I have volunteered with a range of different organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, the Broward Outreach Center, Satellite Beach Cleanup and the African American Research Library & Cultural Center. My parents were very active in the church, school and community in Detroit, where we lived. At an early age, I was involved in community meetings and events. I volunteered within the community to help make our neighborhood a better place to live. It is important to give back because it transforms lives in a positive way. I have enjoyed all of my volunteering endeavors. Knowing that I am helping others makes my heart feel good. Since I have a passion for the performing arts, I currently volunteer at the Maxwell King Center in Melbourne, Florida. As I pursue some of these volunteering opportunities, I remind myself to truly make an impact. I must be courteous, friendly, professional and be willing to serve people. When people feel good, they display a positive mental attitude. Positive attitudes become contagious. Winston Churchill once said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
My favorite activity is “playing Santa” by delivering gifts to complete strangers and wishing them happy holidays! It is a precious moment of spreading kindness, holiday spirit and the goodness this world has to give. Volunteering in a nursing home doesn’t require big gestures, but the willingness to care, listen and show attention and empathy, as the smallest acts means the most to these people.
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PURSUIT
WINTER EQUESTRIAN FESTIVAL Celebrating its 40th edition, Advantage discovered the magic behind one of the leading equestrian events of the year with the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida
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ne of the premier equestrian sport festivals in the world leapt into action this season at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Kicked off on January 9, the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued until March 31, 2019, with more than 70 divisions of hunter-jumper competition, featuring everything from short-stirrup to Olympic-level show jumping. Spanning some 500 acres of pristine landscape and 80 acres of competition rings alone, PBIEC is widely recognized as one of the finest equestrian venues in the world.
The WEF circuit drew riders from over 42 countries to compete, with both leading riders and up-and-comers joining the festivities. “The WEF circuit is truly an incredible experience for riders, spectators, owners and sponsors,” says Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions. “It’s the highlight of our year annually, and our organization continues to strive to provide the best possible competition atmosphere throughout the season.” WEF is the largest and longest running equestrian festival in the world, with more than 8,000 horses competing throughout the event and welcoming competitors of all ages to the venue. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to Wellington, Florida, a vibrant community with breathtaking natural areas, preserves and space for outdoor living. Its warm winter weather draws visitors to bask in the sun, enjoy the pristine beaches, yachting, golf, fine dining, culture and more. PBIEC serves as the perfect venue for the competition, with a 7,000-seat arena surrounded by both fine and casual dining establishments, special event pavilions, a private VIP club area and a nightclub that can compete with those in South Beach.
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Four CSI 5* Grand Prix classes, the highest designation of international show jumping in the sport, took place on February 9, February 23, March 9 and March 30 in the International Ring at PBIEC. Each competition featured the top horse and rider combinations globally and included four FEI World Ranking classes during each week. The final CSI 5* competition of the circuit hosted the USD 500,000 Rolex Grand Prix CSI 5*, the most prestigious international class of the 2019 season. The event took place on the final Saturday of the season.
WORDS Nicholas Thompson, IMAGES (left, right) © PBIEC, (top) © Discover The Palm Beaches
Charity initiatives are at the core of the WEF, with this year’s Great Charity Challenge event hosted on February 3. This year’s theme was “We Are The World,” and each team had the opportunity to represent countries and nations along with their traditional customs in costumes and decorations. The winning team presented $150,000 to Holy Ground Shelter for the Homeless, while all other charities participating received $15,000.
VIP guests were also able to enjoy the club on-site, which offered breakfast and lunch in addition to a world-class dining experience during the “Saturday Night Lights” event each week. The competitions served as the highlight class of the week for top international show jumpers and was one of the most popular events for spectators. Entertainment was provided throughout the evening, with live music, children’s activities and more. With a range of events for spectators of all ages, WEF is a highlight of the cultural calendar. “We are continually impressed by the number of horses and competitors each season and had another very successful circuit in 2019,” says Michael Stone. The WEF celebrated its 40th edition this year, further confirming its place as a leader amongst international equestrian competitions.
Left Riders from 42 countries and all 50 states travel to Wellington for the competition every year Above Wellington in the Palm Beaches is the equestrian capital of the world Right The Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is one of the finest equestrian venues worldwide
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DESIGN
BUILDINGS IN THE SAND The barren and unforgiving landscapes of the world’s deserts provide an architectural playground ripe for experimentation
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Left Phillip K. Smith III, “The Circle of Land and Sky” (2017) defines a reflective space within the Palm Desert
“E
WORDS Emma O'Kelly, IMAGE © Lance Gerber, courtesy Phillip K. Smith III Studio and Desert X
verybody has their desert fantasy,” proclaims American artist Andrea Zittel in various interviews, “and mine was probably living on an alien landscape.” For almost 20 years, Zittel has cultivated A-Z West, a 14 hectare community near Joshua Tree National Park in California. Here she lives a frugal, ascetic lifestyle with her son, her dogs, her chickens and her assistants, creating artwork that sells in top galleries the world over. The arid landscape, with its sci-fi rock formations and lack of neighbors, provides her with the space in which to make work that challenges consumerism and our assumptions about our basic needs. As well as housing Zittel’s home and studio, A-Z West features three shipping containers that serve as sleeping areas and an encampment of 10 steel and aluminum ‘sleeping pods,’ and those eager to experience Zittel’s hard-scrabble existence can apply for a residency. Zittel is not the first to use the desert as an incubator for ideas. 60 years earlier and 40 miles away in Palm Springs, a generation of experimental young architects were building modernist homes for the Hollywood elite. Inspired by Bauhaus and seduced by the untamed Wild West, the likes of John Lautner, E. Stewart Williams, Richard Neutra and Albert Frey became the founding fathers of what is now known as ‘desert modernism.’ Epitomized by residences such as Lautner’s house for actor Bob Hope, Neutra’s Kaufmann House and Frank Sinatra’s house by E. Stewart Williams, it involved swimming pools and wraparound terraces, sunken sofas and cactus gardens, all of which created a retro glamour that still draws design aficionados to Palm Springs every February for Modernism Week. Art has also come to the region in the form of Desert X, a contemporary art biennial that opened its second edition in the Coachella Valley in February. Featuring outdoor works by 19 artists, the show continues the unwavering fascination with desert light and space that Californian artists such as James Turrell and Robert Irwin first captured in their radical site-specific installations in the 1960s. Desert X exhibitors include artist Phillip K. Smith III, who creates large-scale, light-based installations in his studio in Palm Desert. “The Circle of Land and Sky” (2017), consisting of 300 geometric reflectors angled at 10 degrees to capture the changing light, appeared in the debut Desert X and an element of his “Lucid Stead”, the Joshua Tree homestead that he transformed into a mirrored and light structure in 2013, is in the Palm Springs Art Museum’s permanent collection.
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DESIGN
“
We see the desert as an advantage in the pursuit of our research, our approach to materiality. Its bare nature inspires our design more than our design controls the environment. Tarik Al Zaharna, Founder, T.ZEDArchitects
”
Yet the desert is more than a canvas for creatives and a voyeuristic playground for culture lovers. People still actually live there. Take the United Arab Emirates, where almost 80 percent of the land is still sand. After decades of rapid urbanization, a young generation of architects is looking beyond the quick-build glass and metal towers of Dubai to the dunes and seeking more sustainable, subtle ways to build in them. Tarik Al Zaharna, founder of Dubaibased T.ZEDArchitects, is creating a new development in the city which would be more akin to hipster hangout in New York or London. Repurposed from a 10-year-old office block, (considered ancient by Dubai standards), his KOA Canvas features 70 apartments with a gym, pools, restaurants, cafes, daycare center and boutique hotel, created with natural materials and filled with indigenous plants. ‘‘We see the desert as an advantage in the pursuit of our research, our approach to materiality. Its bare nature inspires our design more than our design controls the environment,” explains Al Zaharna. “Nature has already done most of the work, so there is little benefit in trying to challenge that.” With this in mind, T.ZEDArchitects incorporates north facing windows, internal courtyards, and for the first time in the region, thermally modified tulipwood as an architectural shading surface in large quantities, and modern technology that responds to the local landscape into its many schemes.
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IMAGES (center) Courtesy of Tarik Roumie, (top right) © Simone Bossi, (bottom right) © KOA Canvas Left Within a sanctuary from the city, KOA Canvas is Dubai’s most unique new residential community Above Each immaculately curated property holds the unique KOA style of minimalistic aesthetics Right KOA Canvas features 70 apartments with a gym, pools, restaurants, cafes, daycare center and boutique hotel
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DESIGN
Left Amangiri is a remote hideaway in Canyon Point, Utah Right Anarchitect repurposed two 1960s buildings to create the Al Faya Lodge and Spa Below The Nest at Sossus is a brand new private villa situated on the Namib Tsaris Conservancy
Next to Dubai, in the Emirate of Sharjah, historic buildings, structures and ancient villages in the desert are being preserved and renovated. “Due to its natural beauty, diversity of wildlife and archaeological discoveries, Sharjah is quite committed to eco development,” explains Dubai and London-based architect Johnathan Ashmore. His firm Anarchitect repurposed two 1960s buildings at the foot of Mount Alvaah in Sharjah to create the Al Faya Lodge and Spa. Opening this year, it offers a salt spa and treatments, fine dining and star gazing and is the latest addition to the Sharjah Collection, a group of boutique hotels and eco-retreats located across the Emirate. “There’s a growing interest in culturally and historically led explorations of the UAE,” says Ashmore, who’s set up his local Dubai practice six years ago, “and with it comes greater desire to working with the local context, inspired by the local vernacular. I predict more experimentation in the desert in the near future.” The desert as an eco-retreat is a winning formula. When it opened in Utah in 2009, the Amangiri set a new standard for decadence in the dunes. Remoteness became one of the many luxuries on offer. This summer, Six Senses opens a complex of 58 villas and suites in the Negev desert in Israel, where an amphitheater, camel stables and electric cars add to the opulent offerings, and over the past 18 months, the wilderness of Namibia has seen the arrival of a rash of luxury lodges. Among them is The Nest, a thatched dwelling in the Namib desert (the nearest town of Maltahöhe is 80 miles away) which sleeps 7 and comes with a gourmet chef, pool and a helipad (leopards, cheetahs and hyenas provide the company). For its creator, South African designer Porky Hefer, the challenges were immense. “Everything was built on site using local artisans and materials that had to be trucked more than 300 miles; baboons dismantled the tap fittings and by 11 a.m., the steel frame had become so hot it was impossible to work with,” he says. “Building off the grid was both a difficulty and a blessing.”
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IMAGES (clockwise from left) Courtesy of Aman, © Fernando Guerra, © Katinka Bester / The Nest (info@namibtsaris.com)
PHOTOGRAPHY
Petros Koublis LANDSCAPES IN STILL LIFE
B
ased between New York and Athens, Greek photographer Petros Koublis’ ethereal imagery captures an enchanting, almost impressionistic glimpse into landscapes that seem frozen, unaffected by the wears of the elements and unbothered by mankind. The result are profound images that connect the viewer with nature, to a world where time stands still and that is far off from the
intensity of city life. The quiet beauty of each photograph evokes a sense of wonder and melancholy, with deceivingly commonplace subject matter shrouded in mystery. Koublis sees a landscape as an illimitable state, “both an imaginary field and an actual reality—a perpetual state and a momentary revelation” defined by how it appears to the viewer’s senses.
PHOTOGRAPHY
“
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A landscape is an illimitable state. It’s not restricted within the visible area in front of our eyes, but it extends in an undefined distance, reaching for the limits of our interpretation over ourselves and the world around us.
”
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PHOTOGRAPHY
“
An undulating narrative unravels as the landscape slowly reveals subtle truths only to hide them once again. Objects and spaces begin to take on a renewed metaphysical significance.
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”
Petros Koublis petroskoublis.com Instagram @petros.koublis
Embraer Quarterly ¡ 67
BUSINESS JET PORTFOLIO MORE THAN
1,300 AIRCRAFT 8 BUSINESS JETS 4 CLEAN-SHEET DESIGNS OPERATIONS IN MORE THAN
70 COUNTRIES MAKER OF THE WORLD’S BEST-SELLING LIGHT BUSINESS JET FOR
7 CONSECUTIVE YEARS
Every 10 seconds, an Embraer-manufactured aircraft takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year. Since its inception nearly 50 years ago, Embraer has boldly and consistently revolutionized the commercial, defense, agricultural and business aviation segments—and now, as one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers, Embraer also boasts one of the broadest portfolio of business jets on the market. Our class-leading aircraft continue to challenge convention, and when it comes to delivering the ultimate in value and customer experience, Embraer is in a class by itself. We take on our customers’ challenges and apply fresh, innovative perspectives to create solutions that enable them to outperform. That’s Embraer’s mission, and that’s what truly makes all the difference.
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Occupants: 6/8 Range (4 occupants, NBAA reserves): 1,178 nm High-Speed Cruise: 406 ktas MMO: M 0.70
Occupants: 8/11 Range (6 occupants, NBAA reserves): 1,971 nm High-Speed Cruise: 453 ktas MMO: M 0.78
Crew + Standard Pax/Max. Pax: 2+7/9 Range (4 pax, NBAA reserves): 2,904 nm High-Speed Cruise: M 0.82 MMO: M 0.83
Crew + Standard Pax/Max. Pax: 2+8/12 Range (4 pax, NBAA reserves): 3,125 nm High-Speed Cruise: M 0.82 MMO: M 0.83
Crew + Standard Pax/Max. Pax: 2+7/9 Range (4 pax, NBAA reserves): 3,250 nm High-Speed Cruise: M 0.82 MMO: M 0.83
Crew + Standard Pax/Max. Pax: 2+8/12 Range (4 pax, NBAA reserves): 3,900 nm High-Speed Cruise: M 0.82 MMO: M 0.83
Crew + Standard Pax/Max. Pax: 2+13/14 Range (4 pax, NBAA reserves): 3,900 nm High-Speed Cruise: M0.80 MMO: M 0.80
Crew + Standard Pax: 2/3+13/19 Range (8 pax, NBAA reserves): 4,600 nm High-Speed Cruise: M 0.82 MMO: M 082
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GLOBAL PRESENCE
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70 · Advantage Vol5 2019
Sorocaba 24/7 São José dos Campos São Paulo
VENEZUELA CARACAS
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Embraer Quarterly · 71
EVENTS
JOIN EMBRAER AT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS In 2019, Embraer will continue to showcase its class-leading aircraft during industry events throughout the year. If you are in the area, the team will be happy to welcome you aboard our revolutionary business jets at these upcoming events around the world. We also invite you to visit the Embraer website at executive.embraer.com/events for the latest updates and to see which aircraft will be on display. On behalf of the entire Embraer team, we look forward to soaring to new heights with you!
SUN 'N FUN April 2-7 Lakeland, Florida
US AIRCARFT EXPO May 31-June 1 White Plains, New York, USA
ABACE April 16-18 Shanghai, China
NBAA REGIONAL June 6 White Plains, New York, USA
US AIRCRAFT EXPO April 26-27 Denver, Colorado
FRANCE AIR EXPO June 13-15 Lyon, France
AOPA FLY-IN May 10-11 Frederick, Maryland, USA
PARIS AIRSHOW June 17-23 Le Bourget, France
US AIRCRAFT EXPO May 17-18 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
AOPA FLY-IN June 21-22 Livermore, California, USA
EBACE May 21-23 Geneva, Switzerland
EMBRAER LAUNCHES 2019 GLOBAL DEMO TOUR Recently, Embraer launched its 2019 Global Demo Tour. On February 15, 2019, the Phenom 100EV, the Phenom 300E, the Legacy 450 and the Legacy 500 began their journey to be exhibited on static display at airports across the United States—your chance to experience these exhilarating, innovative aircraft up close and in person. The first stop in Naples, Florida featured an evening of luxury and technology, complemented by delectable appetizers and refreshments. In the backdrop, of course, were the stunning Phenom 300E and the revolutionary Legacy 500 on static display. With six stops in total throughout the Southeast, these impressive aircraft are bound to impress. To learn more about the Global Demo Tour, please visit: executive.embraer.com/global/en/demo-tour 72 · Advantage Vol5 2019
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The new Cayenne. Sportscar Together. To learn more, visit porscheusa.com/cayenne
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