During April 2005, Embraer's board of directors approved the development of very light and
light jets. Within ten years, it was hoped that the company could become a major provider for the global
business jet market. On 9 November of that year, the company announced at the annual NBAA convention the name of its very light jet, the Phenom 100, and displayed a full-scale mock-up of the aircraft. The company stated that it was actively exploring opportunities for the Phenom 100 to be used as an
air taxi. Embraer also opted to increase personnel on its business jet division. That same month, Embraer announced that it had selected
Garmin Aviation's
G1000 electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) to be installed in the cockpit of its new jet. In March 2006, Embraer announced it had completed the aircraft's digital definition phase of development. That same month, the company augmented its sales efforts with several full-sized mockups of the Phenom 100. That April, expanded plans for the aircraft's production were revealed along with a 3.5% increase in the unit price. The company reportedly aimed to secure 30% of the global market for very light jets. In May 2006, it was announced at the EBACE conference that 50 orders for the Phenom 100 had been secured. Two months later, Embraer released more details on the pending initial operators for the aircraft. In August 2006, the first order from a customer in
Latin America was received. During October 2006, the American engine manufacturer
Pratt & Whitney had commenced testing of the
PW617-F turbofan engines intended for the Phenom 100. In March 2007, development of the aircraft was reportedly proceeding to schedule, Embraer took delivery of the first PW617-F engines that same month. The following April, the mating between the wing and fuselage of the first aircraft occurred as its assembly neared completion. In June 2007, the prototype was officially rolled out and ground testing of the aircraft commenced shortly thereafter. On 26 July 2007, the prototype Phenom 100 performed its
maiden flight from the company's facility in
São José dos Campos, Brazil. Two weeks later, it was transferred to Gaviao Peixoto, where the majority of the flight test programme was conducted. In March 2008, it was announced that serial production of the aircraft would commence in the following month. During flight testing, issues with the aircraft's
ice protection system and
flaps were uncovered. During December 2008, the Phenom 100 was awarded its
type certificate by both Brazil's National Civil Aviation Authority and the United States'
Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft is certified as the
EMB-500. The first Phenom 100 delivery took place on 24 December 2008. ==Design==