Suitably placed between the larger mainline aircraft and the smaller regional jets, Embraer E-Jets have achieved outstanding success, with more than 900 firm orders logged and 700 jets in operation, worldwide

What goes down eventually comes back up. This statement by Paulo Cesar, the Executive Vice President (Commercial), Embraer, is typical of Brazilian optimism. Companies, like people, often emerge from economic downturns with renewed perspectives. As airlines are reworking their strategies by introducing new routes, Embraer with E-Jets in its product line, finds itself in an advantageous position.

Cesar substantiates “airlines in countries that never had jet aircraft with fewer than 120 seats have a unique opportunity to re-examine their approach to capacity and seize the untapped potential of that category. As many of our more than 50 E-Jets customers can attest, their fleet decision years ago helped them weather today’s economic turmoil.”

Embraer forecasts a requirement for 6,875 new jets in the 30 to 120-seat capacity segment over the next 20 years with a total market value estimated around $200 billion (Rs. 9,00,000 crore). The projections are delivery of 2,895 aircraft between 2010 and 2019 and the remaining 3,980 units between 2020 and 2029.

Regional airlines are strengthening their networks, requiring operational efficiency to sustain future growth. In India, one of the fastest growing aviation markets, airlines are working towards connecting II and III tier cities to the metros, calling for smaller seat configuration aircraft. The expansion of low-cost carriers in Asia, Europe and the efforts in linking the African continent, call for right-sizing fleet and E-Jets fits the bill.

Medium Capacity

Owing to airline demands for medium-capacity jets, Embraer launched the Embraer 170/190 aircraft family, later called E-Jets, which originally encompassed the Embraer 170, the Embraer 190 and the Embraer 195. Later, the family also included the Embraer175.

The project was completely new, benefiting from the interactive simulation and modeling technology in Embraer’s Virtual Reality Centre (CRV). The high degree of commonality among the models of this family—about 90 per cent of the parts are common to several models—allows airlines to cut down drastically on operating costs and training, thereby increasing their flexibility and strengthening their profitability.

The launching of the new family was announced during the 43rd Paris Air Show on June 14, 1999. Initially, the airplanes were named ERJ 170, ERJ 190-100 and ERJ 190-200. Later on, during the rollout of the first prototype, the names were changed to Embraer 170, 190 and 195, respectively.

The Embraer 170 was the first model of the new jet family to be launched. Its rollout was on October 29, 2001, and its first flight was on February 19, 2002. In February 2004, it was officially approved in Brazil, the United States and Europe, and in the same year the first unit was delivered to LOT Polish Airlines.

The Embraer 170/190 family of E-Jets consists of four commercial jets with 70 to 122 seats, configured to give passenger comfort while giving the airline business viability. Embraer has emphasised that the four E-Jets are suitably placed between the larger mainline aircraft and the smaller regional jets.

E-Jets are known for their advanced engineering design, efficient performance, outstanding operating economics, low emission levels and a spacious cabin without middle seats. The aircraft have a maximum cruising speed of Mach 0.82, can fly at 41,000 feet (12,497 metres) and have ranges of up to 2,400 nautical miles (4,448 kilometres). Another key feature of the E-Jets is the state-of-the-art, fly-by-wire technology, which increases operating safety, while reducing pilot workload and fuel consumption.