Embraer halted light business jet deliveries in the first half of this year to help the company "catch up" on design changes required by service bulletins.
Deliveries of the fast-selling Phenom 100 and 300 jets plunged in the first and second quarters as a result of that decision, said Ernest Edwards, vice president of executive aviation marketing and sales.
Edwards' remarks at the AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, help explain how Phenom deliveries declined in the first half even as rivals reported increases.
Embraer reported deliveries of 26 Phenoms during the six-month period. That pace is 30 fewer aircraft reported than the same period a year ago, and only about one-fourth of projected deliveries for this year.
Embraer has not changed delivery guidance of about 100 Phenoms for the full year. Edwards said he expects Phenom deliveries to accelerate in the second half now that the service bulletins have been addressed.
Moreover, the delivery hiatus proved to be the right decision, Edwards said, because it avoided inconveniencing customers and increasing sustainment costs to address the service bulletins after the delivery.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued several service bulletins on Phenom series aircraft, including warning Phenom 100 operators about a stall problem in January. The bulletin recommended replacing the twin-jet's two angle-of-attack sensors and cover plates to prevent possible loss of control problems.
Embraer also still plans to deliver 18 Lineage 600/650 large jets this year after delivering five in the first half, Edwards said.
Source: Flight International