Embraer unveils two new business jet concepts

Brazil-based Embraer is best known for its regional jets. But at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference in Atlanta, Georgia, the jet maker unveiled two new business jet concepts - a midlight and a midsized jet - to add to its small, but growing line of executive aircraft.

Embraer plans to become a major player in the business jet market by 2015. At present, though, the planes are just at the concept stage, and the company has not decided whether it will actually launch them, said Embraer president and chief executive Frederico Fleury Curado.

The new clean-sheet designs would feature a state-of-the-art cockpit and avionics. They would have common wings, engines and empennages. The midlight aircraft is actually a smaller version of the midsized.

Officials refused to put a price to the planes, but the head of Embraer's business aircraft unit Luis Carlos Affonso said the company was taking orders with refundable deposits of $70,000 and $90,000, depending on the plane.