Man-Machine Interface (MMI) Advisory Board Weighs In On Development Program

Embraer says its midlight Legacy 450 (right above) and midsize Legacy 500 (right below) executive jet development programs are continuing pretty much as planned. The concepts were presented at the 2007 NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention, in Atlanta, Georgia, and the company says it is still committed to developing these aircraft.

The second Man-Machine Interface (MMI) Advisory Board, formed by seasoned pilots and aircraft owners from around the world, was held at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, in the second half of 2009. The majority of the Board’s previous suggestions were implemented in the final projects of the jets, confirming Embraer’s commitment to design aircraft that meet market demands. As a result of one of the suggestions, the Company now offers a broader range of finishing materials. Guided by six different thematic panels, customers can select the interior configuration that best matches their interests, from among millions of possible combinations.

“As we begin producing the first parts for the Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 jets, we are always open to learning from our customers,” said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. “Listening to our customers has been an Embraer trade mark. I believe this is the right attitude to have when designing products that respond to market needs, and are intended to always provide customers with a remarkable ownership  experience.”

Pilot's View Artist's Concept

Various manufacturing processes are in the testing phase. Quality and maturity tests are also being conducted to evaluate the aircraft equipment under critical flight situations, such as vibration and high altitude. Extreme conditions are simulated in advanced testing chambers at supplier and Embraer facilities. This procedure will ensure that certain part designs are already mature when the prototypes begin their test flights. Embraer steadily advances in the development of avionics and fly-by-wire flight control systems. Rigs are used to simulate the features of the Rockwell  Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics, as well as the aircraft flight control system. Through the use of computational flight simulation, fly-by-wire control laws are tested and verified by pilots and engineers well before any airplane prototype is built.

Production has begun on the Legacy 500’s first parts. The nose and main landing gear forgings arrived at Heroux-Devtek, in Canada and began to be machined. Meggitt performed the first forgings for the wheels and brakes. Belgium’s Sonaca began the first trials for stretching the rear fuselage panels at its facilities in the city of Gosselies. The selection of suppliers continues. Embraer’s commitment to the environment is built into the  design of the Legacy 450 and the Legacy 500. The aircraft will comply with worldwide certification limits for aviation noise and emissions, as established by the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), and with very significant margins.

Pilot's View Artist's Concept

During the MMI meeting, the Audio and Video Cabin Management System (AV/CMS) – Honeywell’s Ovation Select Full Digital, Hi-Definition, Hi-Fidelity, Hi-Speed Cabin Connection Suite – had its graphical user interface tested in a “Voice of Customer” session, which was dedicated to learning the board’s impressions regarding the system’s functionality and appearance.

The certification process is well underway with Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC), the FAA, and the EASA.

FMI: www.embraer.com