Automation / FMS use at your company

[hotwing]

SPX, the 145 is primus 1000 (650 will be EPIC I believe and a VNAV button is going to be retroed to all Legacy 600s that want it or require it if it comes to that for RNAV STARs and SIDs). We had VNAV but no ability to *couple*. I can create a glideslope I just have to use VSI mode to stay on it. No big deal. Also, Air Whiskey was an all-CRJ outfit as I recall.

Then you can't do the RNP or GNSS Approaches to the lowest min nor a RNP .11 appraoch, can you? This is just not for the STARS or SIDS... It is for the approaches and these newer approaches do not allow dive and drive or VS and following a PDI down or a "glide slope" (PDI)... The must by coupled... So, the Legacy will not do any of that?? I have often wondered what the plane is like... The G550 does it, as it is an EPIC platformed Honeywell system... I have a buddy flying the Legacy but have never asked him about it... Is it just like all the RJ(s) out there?

 

[LegacyDriver]

It is way better than the RJs. Coupled VNAV is coming on all 650s and a retrofit for all airplanes prior is in the works. Won't be much trouble to do. At the time it was thought that the capability wasn't needed (which is true) but RNP has changed things.
The Legacy is a great machine. Way overbuilt for what it does. As an executive or charter airplane you just can't beat it and it is wonderful to fly. The systems are so simple and redundant that the workload is almost zero. In fact the "hardest" part is probably a multiple-step-down arrival (since ev erything else is so simple). It is the kind of jet that makes pilots look good.
Durable. Reliable. Redundant as all get out. Big. Comfortable (huge) cockpit. Great air conditioning. Best APU system out there. Just a good bird all around.

 

[ProFracPilot]

It is way better than the RJs. Coupled VNAV is coming on all 650s and a retrofit for all airplanes prior is in the works. Won't be much trouble to do. At the time it was thought that the capability wasn't needed (which is true) but RNP has changed things.
The Legacy is a great machine. Way overbuilt for what it does. As an executive or charter airplane you just can't beat it and it is wonderful to fly. The systems are so simple and redundant that the workload is almost zero. In fact the "hardest" part is probably a multiple-step-down arrival (since ev erything else is so simple). It is the kind of jet that makes pilots look good.
Durable. Reliable. Redundant as all get out. Big. Comfortable (huge) cockpit. Great air conditioning. Best APU system out there. Just a good bird all around.

MOST all the above - true in my experience.

The inability to couple the VNAV was huge FAIL on Embraer's part.

The A/P on this airplane will not smoothly intercept an ILS (I've flown many s/n's, all the same). Doesn't matter if you're 30nm or 3nm away from the loc antenna. I was told Embraer didn't spend the engineering $$ to "fine tune" it. Think "Honeywell Waltz".

SPR fueling / aux system - sucks a$$. It is finicky about taking the fuel, and sometimes it won't transfer out of the aux system when you REALLY need it (i.e., halfway to PHOG). If you don't need / want the range guaranteed by the additional 7,000+ lbs in the aux system, it is a fine 3+30 airplane (with reserves) with wing fuel only.

8000' cabin at FL390 or FL410 for long periods increases fatigue of all on board.

Cockpit is indeed very large and comfortable. It is also extremely loud (which also increases fatigue).

Sorry for my contribution to the thread drift. I thought LD was just getting a little carried away