Embraer delivered on its promise to expand its line of business jets with the introduction last month at EBACE of the Lineage 1000 jet derived from its fly-by-wire E190 regional airliner. The $40.95 million large-cabin business aircraft is expected to enter service in mid-2008.

“When we unveiled the Phenom jets only 12 months ago, we asserted to the business aviation community our firm commitment to stay in this industry and [expand] our presence,” noted Embraer president and CEO Mauricio Botelho. “We are now taking advantage of the Embraer 190 platform to launch… a premium product with superior comfort and performance. This is yet another demonstration of Embraer’s long-term vision and will to serve our customers with a product line that spans the market.”

The Lineage 1000–which Embraer has dubbed an “ultra-large” business jet–will seat 13 to 19 passengers in a cabin that can be split into five zones. Cabin options include a full-size bed and a stand-up shower.

With a mtow of 121,252 pounds, the Lineage will be slightly heavier than the Embraer 190–closer, in fact, to the weight of the 118-seat E195 airliner. The Lineage’s 615-cu-ft baggage compartment will be positioned above the floor level to make space for additional fuel tanks below. Though it is slightly longer than the 737 from which the rival Boeing Business Jet was derived, the Lineage 1000, with a range of 4,200 nm, will not share the ultra-long-range capabilities of the BBJ.

According to Embraer senior vice president for executive jets Luis Carlos Affonso, the manufacturer first considered basing its next business aircraft on the smaller 170 airliner, but the requirement for more range necessitated a move up to the 190 airframe. However, he told AIN that his company might still introduce a corporate version of the E170, adding that Embraer has every intention of filling the product gaps between the Lineage 1000, the Legacy 600 (based on the ERJ 135 regional jet) and the Phenom 100 and 300. The Brazilian manufacturer could be ready to commit to further new aircraft programs by year-end.

Affonso said his company has already taken initial orders for the new model, though they hadn’t been converted to firm contracts at press time. He said demand for the Lineage 1000 is expected to come from a prospective customer base that includes wealthy individuals, government officials, scheduled/branded executive charter operators and corporate shuttle operations. Embraer is now in talks with several business aviation interior specialists to find a completions partner for the new airplane.

The Lineage 1000, to be powered by two 18,500-pound-thrust GE CF34-10E7 engines, will feature a five-screen Honeywell Primus Epic integrated avionics suite. It will have a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.82 and a ceiling of 41,000 feet. According to Embraer, the Lineage 1000 platform is designed for quick turnaround, top performance, high utilization and low maintenance.