The Embraer Phenom 300E has been the world's best-selling light jet for more than a decade running, a remarkable achievement in a fiercely competitive market segment. This is not a coincidence — the Phenom 300E has earned its position by delivering an exceptional combination of speed, range, cabin comfort, and operating economics that no competitor has been able to match consistently.
Key Specifications
Performance
- Range: 2,010 nm (3,724 km)
- Maximum speed: 464 ktas
- Maximum altitude: 45,000 ft
- Engines: 2x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E1
- Thrust: 3,478 lbs per engine
- Takeoff distance: 3,138 ft
Dimensions
- Cabin length: 17 ft 2 in (5.23 m)
- Cabin width: 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
- Cabin height: 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m)
- Baggage capacity: 84 cu ft
- Passengers: Up to 10 (typical 7-8)
- Crew: 1 or 2 pilots
The Fastest Light Jet
At 464 knots true airspeed, the Phenom 300E is the fastest single-pilot certified aircraft in the world and the fastest light jet by a significant margin. This speed advantage translates to meaningful time savings:
- New York to Miami: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes (vs. 2 hours 50 minutes for typical competitors)
- Chicago to Dallas: approximately 2 hours 15 minutes
- Los Angeles to San Francisco: approximately 1 hour 5 minutes
Over the course of a year, those minutes add up. For owners and charter operators, faster speed means more productive travel and more revenue-generating flights per day.
The Cabin Experience
Embraer's heritage as a commercial aircraft manufacturer is evident in the Phenom 300E's cabin design. The fuselage cross-section is among the most generous in the light jet category:
- Stand-up height: At 4 ft 11 in, most passengers can stand comfortably in the center of the cabin
- Flat floor: Unlike many light jets that have a step or contour in the cabin floor, the Phenom 300E offers a flat floor throughout
- Club seating: Four executive seats in a facing-club arrangement, with optional additional seating
- Belted lavatory: An enclosed, externally serviced lavatory with a belted seat
- Refreshment center: A forward galley with hot and cold beverage capability
Cabin Technology
The "E" in Phenom 300E stands for "Enhanced," and the cabin technology upgrades are substantial:
- Embraer Connect: High-speed Wi-Fi powered by Gogo AVANCE L5
- Entertainment: Upper tech panel with a large HD display and wireless streaming
- Lighting: LED ambient lighting with color and intensity control
- Climate: Dual-zone temperature control
- Power: USB and 110V outlets at every seat
- Noise: Acoustic treatment provides one of the quietest cabins in the category
The Flight Deck
The Phenom 300E features the Prodigy Touch flight deck, developed by Embraer with Garmin:
- Three 14.1-inch touchscreen displays: Intuitive interface reduces pilot workload
- Synthetic vision: Standard 3D terrain and obstacle display
- Single-pilot certified: Full functionality available to a single pilot
- Autothrottle: Reduces workload during approach and go-around
- Runway Overrun Awareness and Alerting System (ROAAS): A safety feature that provides real-time landing distance assessment
- Emergency descent mode: Automatic descent in case of cabin depressurization
Why the Phenom 300E Dominates Sales
Several factors combine to make the Phenom 300E the perennial sales leader:
For Owners
- Fastest aircraft in the category — time savings on every flight
- Best resale values among light jets
- Low operating costs relative to performance
- Single-pilot capability reduces crew costs
- Excellent reliability and dispatch rate
For Charter Operators
- High utilization capability — fast turnarounds
- Passenger satisfaction drives repeat bookings
- Fuel efficiency improves margins
- Strong brand recognition attracts clients
- Robust global support network
Operating Costs
Annual Operating Costs (Estimated, 300 hours/year)
- Fuel: $270,000 - $340,000
- Maintenance: $180,000 - $270,000
- Crew (2 pilots): $280,000 - $400,000
- Insurance: $35,000 - $65,000
- Hangar: $24,000 - $72,000
- Management: $60,000 - $120,000
- Total: $849,000 - $1,267,000
Pricing
- New list price: Approximately $10.5 million (2026)
- Pre-owned (2021-2024): $8.0 - $9.5 million
- Pre-owned (2018-2020): $6.5 - $8.0 million
- Pre-owned (2015-2017): $5.0 - $6.5 million
Competitors
The Phenom 300E competes primarily with:
- Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2: A strong competitor with Cessna's extensive service network, but slower cruise speed
- Pilatus PC-24: The versatile Swiss jet with short-field and unpaved runway capability, but less outright speed
- Nextant 400XTi: A remanufactured Beechjet offering lower acquisition cost, but with less range and older technology
The Phenom 300E's combination of speed, range, cabin, and residual value has proven difficult for any single competitor to match across all dimensions.
