Phenom 300 vs Praetor 500

Executive Summary

Choose the Phenom 300 if: Your typical missions stay under 1,800 nm, you rarely carry more than 6 passengers, and operating economics are a top priority. The Phenom 300 delivers the best cost-per-mile in its class while maintaining impressive speed and comfort.

Choose the Praetor 500 if: You need transcontinental range (3,340 nm), frequently carry 7+ passengers, or require full stand-up cabin headroom. The Praetor 500's 66% range advantage and significantly larger cabin justify the premium for high-utilization operators.

The Embraer Family Advantage

One unique aspect of this comparison is that both aircraft come from the same manufacturer, sharing design philosophy, avionics architecture, and support infrastructure. Operators moving from Phenom 300 to Praetor 500 benefit from:

• Familiar cockpit layout: Both feature Prodigy Touch flight decks with similar Collins Aerospace avionics
• Common training infrastructure: Embraer's training centers support seamless transitions between aircraft
• Unified service network: The same authorized service centers support both aircraft types
• Consistent build quality: Both aircraft benefit from Embraer's aerospace heritage and manufacturing standards

Performance Analysis

The Praetor 500 outperforms the Phenom 300 in nearly every performance category, which is exactly what you'd expect from a midsize jet. The Praetor cruises 13 knots faster (466 ktas vs 453 ktas) and climbs to 45,000 feet more quickly thanks to its more powerful Honeywell HTF7500E engines.

However, the most significant performance difference is range. The Praetor 500's 3,340 nm NBAA IFR range represents a massive 66% improvement over the Phenom 300's already-respectable 2,010 nm capability. This range advantage opens entirely new mission profiles:

• New York to Los Angeles: The Praetor 500 completes this nonstop; the Phenom 300 requires a fuel stop
• Miami to São Paulo: The Praetor 500's forte (2,896 nm); impossible for the Phenom 300
• Los Angeles to Cabo with reserves: Both can do it, but the Praetor provides comfortable margins

The Phenom 300 maintains one field performance advantage: takeoff distance. At 3,290 feet, the Phenom accesses 931 feet less runway than the Praetor 500's 4,222-foot requirement—meaningful for operations into smaller airports like Aspen or Teterboro during weight-restricted conditions.

Cabin Comparison: Size Matters

The cabin experience represents the most dramatic difference between these aircraft. The Praetor 500's cabin is 32% longer (22.7 ft vs 17.2 ft), 35% wider (6.9 ft vs 5.1 ft), and 22% taller (6.0 ft vs 4.9 ft). These aren't incremental improvements—this is a fundamentally different cabin class.

What this means in practice:

• Stand-up cabin: At 6 feet tall, the Praetor 500 allows most passengers to stand upright throughout the cabin; the Phenom 300's 4.9-foot height requires stooping
• Seating configurations: The Praetor 500 comfortably accommodates triple-club seating (6 facing seats) plus additional forward-facing seats; the Phenom 300 typically maxes out at double club plus belted lavatory
• Workspace capability: The Praetor 500's extra width supports facing conference tables; the Phenom 300's width limits work surface options
• Baggage capacity: 150 cu ft vs 84 cu ft—the Praetor carries nearly twice the cargo, critical for extended trips or golf outings

Both aircraft feature Embraer's excellent cabin management systems and high-quality finishes, but the Praetor 500 adds luxuries like:

• Full galley with wet bar (vs. Phenom's refreshment center)
• Enclosed lavatory with vacuum toilet and sink (vs. Phenom's belted lav)
• Upper Tech Panel with turbulence-free wireless device charging
• Ka-band high-speed internet as standard (optional on Phenom 300)

Operating Economics: The $7M Question

Here's where the decision becomes purely mathematical. The Praetor 500 costs roughly $7M more to acquire new ($17M vs $9.9M) and approximately $6M more in the pre-owned market for comparable vintage. Additionally, the Praetor costs more to operate on both hourly and annual bases.

Cost comparison (400 hours/year):

• Hourly variable costs: Praetor at $3,150/hr vs Phenom at $2,350/hr = $320K annual difference
• Annual fixed costs: Praetor at $665K vs Phenom at $485K = $180K annual difference
• Total annual operating cost delta: $500K per year
• 10-year ownership premium: $7M acquisition + $5M operating = $12M total premium for the Praetor 500

The critical question: Does your mission profile justify a $12M premium over 10 years?

The Praetor 500 justifies its premium when:

• You fly 50+ hours annually on routes exceeding 1,800 nm (where the Phenom requires fuel stops)
• Passenger loads regularly exceed 6 people, making the larger cabin necessary rather than nice-to-have
• Charter revenue opportunities increase with the midsize cabin and range certification
• Your corporate image benefits from the cabin space and amenities the Praetor provides

The Phenom 300 makes more financial sense when:

• 95% of your missions fall within 1,500 nm
• Typical passenger loads are 4-6 people
• Operating cost management is a top-three priority
• You operate from airports where the Phenom's superior field performance matters

Market Positioning & Resale Value

The Phenom 300 has been the world's best-selling light jet for over a decade, creating exceptional market liquidity. This translates to easier resale, faster transaction times, and competitive pricing when it's time to upgrade or exit.

The Praetor 500, introduced in 2019, represents a newer platform with strong but still-developing market presence. Early residual value data shows excellent retention (approximately 85% for 2020 models), though the sample size remains smaller than the Phenom's extensive resale history.

Both aircraft benefit from Embraer's reputation for build quality and the manufacturer's strong support network across North America, Latin America, and Europe.

Mission Profile Analysis

When the Phenom 300 Is the Right Tool:

• Regional business aviation: New York to Miami, Chicago to Dallas, Los Angeles to San Francisco
• Owner-operator scenarios: Lower complexity, reduced operating costs, excellent dispatch reliability
• Part 135 charter operations: Light jet market pricing with jet card appeal
• Challenging airports: Superior short-field performance for Aspen, Teterboro, Scottsdale

When the Praetor 500 Upgrade Makes Sense:

• Transcontinental missions: Coast-to-coast U.S. nonstop capability
• International operations: Miami to São Paulo, Los Angeles to Cabo with full passengers and bags
• Larger travel parties: Regularly carrying 7-9 passengers in comfort
• Mixed-mission profiles: When you need both short-field capability AND long range
• Charter revenue optimization: Midsize jets command 40-50% higher hourly rates than light jets

Final Verdict

The Phenom 300 vs Praetor 500 decision ultimately boils down to mission requirements and budget reality. The Phenom 300 remains one of the best values in business aviation—delivering impressive speed, range, and reliability at a price point that makes private aviation accessible to a broader market. It's the right answer for the majority of light jet missions.

The Praetor 500 represents the aircraft you graduate to when your missions outgrow the Phenom's capabilities. That might mean you're regularly flying coast-to-coast, carrying larger groups, or demanding true stand-up cabin comfort. If your operations justify the $7M acquisition premium and $500K annual cost increase, the Praetor 500 delivers midsize capability with Embraer's signature efficiency and value proposition.

The upgrade math is simple: Calculate how many times per year you'd have to make fuel stops, turn away passengers due to weight, or apologize for cabin size in the Phenom 300. If those incidents exceed 25-30 annually, the Praetor 500's premium pays for itself in avoided inefficiency and captured opportunities. If those scenarios are rare, the Phenom 300's economics will serve you better.

For operators who legitimately need midsize capability, the Praetor 500 stands as one of the best values in its class—offering range and cabin size competitive with aircraft costing $25M+ while maintaining Embraer's reputation for operating efficiency. For everyone else, the Phenom 300 continues its reign as the smart choice in light jets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Praetor 500 worth the upgrade cost from the Phenom 300?

It depends on your mission profile. If you regularly need more than 2,000 nm of range, carry 7+ passengers frequently, or require a full stand-up cabin, the Praetor 500 justifies the roughly $7M premium. For shorter regional missions with smaller groups, the Phenom 300 delivers better economics.

Can both aircraft be flown single-pilot?

Yes, both the Phenom 300 and Praetor 500 are certified for single-pilot operation, though most corporate and charter operators use two-pilot crews for safety and regulatory compliance.

Do they share common type ratings?

No. Despite being from the same manufacturer, the Phenom 300 and Praetor 500 require separate type ratings. However, pilots familiar with one aircraft will find the transition to the other relatively straightforward given Embraer's consistent design philosophy.

Which aircraft has better dispatch reliability?

Both aircraft demonstrate excellent dispatch reliability (95%+), benefiting from Embraer's mature engineering and global service network. The Phenom 300's simpler systems and larger fleet size may provide slightly easier parts availability in some regions.