Embraer E-Jet

Baboo réalise le premier vol en ERJ 190 à London City



Le premier vol commercial en Embraer 190 à London City est l’œuvre de Baboo. La compagnie suisse a fait atterrir un ERJ 190 sur la plateforme du centre de Londres le 10 février, après un vol en provenance de Genève.

L’ERJ 190 remplace ainsi le Q400 de Bombardier qui opérait la liaison jusqu’alors. Il lui permet d’augmenter ses capacités puisqu’il compte une centaine de places tandis que le turbopropulseur en proposait 74.

Le constructeur brésilien a annoncé la semaine dernière que l’appareil régional doté de l’option steep approach (approche en pente raide) avait été certifié sur l’aéroport London City.

Baboo compte trois ERJ 190 dans sa flotte. Tous sont équipés de l’option steep approach.

Embraer could re-engine its GE Aviation CF34-powered E-Jets family as part of a broader study into new commercial programmes, which is being stepped up by the Brazilian airframer in the face of growing competition.

A decision is expected by the end-2010 on whether or not to re-engine and incorporate newer technology into the E-Jets family, or bring a larger-capacity, clean-sheet jet design to market, says Mauro Kern, who was last week promoted to the newly-created position as Embraer's executive vice-president new programmes, airline market.

"You know we've been studying several different projects and talking to engine manufacturers. There have been a lot of different activities in terms of getting prepared to take the next step on our commercial airplane product line. We see that we are approaching a time for a decision on that."



Embraer has also studied a possible stretch of its largest-capacity E-Jet, a project informally called the E-195X. However, Kern says: "Let's not [just] focus on the E-195X because the E-Jets as a family is very strong. It's not only about increasing the size of the aircraft, it's about the family."

The market for 100-120 seats, which is covered by the existing E-Jets, continues to be very promising, he stresses. "It has been very successful. We have a full commitment in keeping this family strong into the future."

Airbus and Boeing are expected to decide this year on whether or not to push ahead with re-engined versions of their successful A320 and 737 families respectively.

Kern notes that a big advantage for E-Jet operators today is their ability to use the aircraft to "right-size" in lower-density markets. However, he acknowledges that if Airbus or Boeing re-engine their narrowbodies, and achieve "better costs per trip", the advantage enjoyed by the E-Jets would "disappear".

"The right-sizing concept has been really strong and we are trying to keep that edge," he says.

Embraer has not yet pinpointed a preferred engine technology, should it opt to re-engine its E-Jets, he adds.

"I would not like to anticipate our position," he says. "We have been working internally here to understand very clearly and to try to find the best possible use of these different technologies for the airplane concepts we're studying here.

"But at this point, I could not say that there is any specific technology that has a clear advantage over the other. GE has been a very good partner on the E-Jets and the other engine manufacturers seem to have very interesting propositions as well."

In his latest role as head of new programmes, Kern is tasked with pulling the necessary company resources together and "putting more energy and more focus into getting all the initiatives in place for a decision for the launch of something new".

Paulo Cesar Silva, formerly Embraer senior vice-president, sales financing, has succeeded Kern as executive vice-president, airline market. He will run the day-to-day operations on the commercial side, while Kern focuses on strategy.

That strategy is not likely to initially focus on new turboprops. Embraer has investigated "several possibilities for turboprops" but currently sees this "as kind of a limited market", says Kern, adding: "I wouldn't say this is a first option today

Embraer: décision sur un plus grand jet régional d'ici à la fin de l'année

VILLEPINTE — Le constructeur aéronautique brésilien Embraer a annoncé mercredi qu'il déciderait d'ici à la fin de l'année de lancer ou non une version allongée de son jet régional, tout en se défendant de vouloir concurrencer l'Airbus A320.
"Il y a de la place pour cet avion. Nous menons des études. L'accueil de la part des compagnies aériennes est plutôt bon en ce qui concerne la taille de l'avion", a expliqué Luiz Sergio Chiessi, vice-président, responsable de la division prospection et développement des marchés.
La famille des E jets compte actuellement quatre avions dont le E190 et E195 disposant de 70 à 122 sièges.
"Nous travaillons sur un nouveau moteur", a ajouté M. Chiessi lors d'une conférence de presse près de Paris, soulignant que le fuselage serait le même.
Interrogé en marge de la conférence, il a indiqué que la décision de lancer ou non cet avion serait prise "au cours du second semestre, avant la fin de l'année".
Il s'est toutefois refusé à préciser le nombre de sièges, se bornant à dire que l'avion serait "une évolution de la famille E jets" et qu'il aurait "quelques sièges supplémentaires".
Luiz Sergio Chiessi s'est par ailleurs défendu de vouloir lancer cette nouvelle version pour faire concurrence à l'Airbus A320, tout en laissant entendre que la décision dépendrait de celle du constructeur européen Airbus de remotoriser son monocouloir.
"La concurrence est trop rude", a déclaré M. Chiessi.
Le dirigeant a par ailleurs indiqué que des négociations étaient toujours en cours avec les autorités chinoises pour transformer en ligne de production pour E190 l'usine de production des E145 (cinquante sièges), qui se vendent de moins en moins. Celle-ci est en effet implantée en Chine.
"Nous n'avons toujours pas de décision mais nous sommes confiants", a-t-il déclaré.

Embraer sets out timeline for E-Jet re-engining decision
By Victoria Moores

Embraer has set a six- to nine-month timeline for a decision on whether it will re-engine its E-Jets or come up with a clean-sheet design.Although Boeing seems to have cooled on re-engining its 737, Embraer remains watchful about the threat of the Bombardier CSeries and a potential re-engined Airbus A320 family."We are deeply involved now in understanding what the alternatives are, and what the company might do. We should make a decision within the next six to nine months," said Embraer executive vice-president for the airline market Paulo Cesar Silva.Speaking during last week's European Regions Airline Association conference in Barcelona, he said it was not clear whether airlines require a new product, especially as the 4-6% in potential direct operating cost savings will be quickly offset by the capital outlay for an all-new aircraft."Is this enough to invest in a new product? Maybe not," he says.But the re-engining decision might be forced through if Airbus should make the first move. "The most evident option, if either manufacturer re-engines their narrowbodies, is to re-engine the E-Jet family in order to remain competitive," explains Cesar Silva."As we move upwards and get closer to the two big dogs, the game which is played is very different. We can't afford to make a mistake. We have to be sure of where we want to be."

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/09/29/347921/embraer-sets-out-timeline-for-e-jet-re-engining-decision.html

Admin a écrit:
Il manque le SSJ

Embraer SA (EMBR3)’s E-190 jets, flown by carriers including US Airways Group Inc. (LCC), need more frequent inspections after tests turned up cracks that may indicate a structural flaw, Brazil’s aviation authority said.

Cracks were found after metal-fatigue checks in unspecified “structural components” that could compromise the plane’s integrity, the regulator, known as Anac, said in an airworthiness directive on its website. It set a 90-day deadline starting June 16 to comply with the new procedures.

“Failure to inspect these structural components, according to the new tasks, thresholds and intervals, could prevent a timely detection of fatigue cracking,” Anac said. “These cracks, if not properly addressed, could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.”

The E-190 can carry as many as 114 passengers and is operated by airlines such as US Airways, JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU), Air Canada and Brazil’s Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras, founded by former JetBlue Chairman David Neeleman. Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil-based Embraer has delivered 332 of the jets.

Embraer “is aware of the matter and evaluates a solution to comply with this directive by June 16,” a press officer said in an e-mail on condition of anonymity, citing policy at the world’s fourth-largest commercial planemaker.

Embraer rose 0.93 percent to 12.97 reais today in Sao Paulo trading.

Air Canada, JetBlue

Air Canada found “no anomalies” in inspections of its E- 190s, said Angela Mah, a spokeswoman. The airline has 45 of the planes, according to its website.

JetBlue also has completed inspections of its E-190s, said Sebastian White, a spokesman for the New York-based airline.

“We are fully compliant and have seen no operational impact,” he said in an e-mailed statement. JetBlue operated 45 of the planes at the end of 2010, according to a regulatory filing.

Azul will meet Anac’s deadline, and the change in maintenance procedures is “perfectly compatible with present operations,” the carrier said in an e-mailed statement. It has 10 E-190s, according to the Ascend Online Fleets database.

A spokesman for New York-based US Airways couldn’t immediately comment. Tempe, Arizona-based US Airways operates 15 of the Embraer planes, according to Ascend Online Fleets.

The twin-engine E-190 began flying in 2004. Embraer has 170 firm orders for the plane, according to the company’s first- quarter earnings release.

Airlines regularly inspect planes for metal fatigue because of the strain on parts from changes in atmospheric pressure in flight and the jolt of landings.

Boeing Co. (BA) said last month that fatigue checks needed to be stepped up on older 737s after cracks developed sooner than expected on a Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) jet that split open in flight. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration required new crack inspections on certain 737 models, covering about 175 planes worldwide.

Estonian national carrier Estonian Air has received permission from the ministry of economy to replace the new Bombardiers that the airline acquired recently with cheaper planes made by Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer.

„We are in talks with a competing aircraft manufacturer aimed at reaching better terms,” is how Estonian Air president Tero Taskila commented the case.

It has been only a year when Estonian Air was handed over three new Bombardier aircraft. The airline needed new planes badly since it was in the process of removing the Saab turboprops from service and closing the lease of Boeing aircraft.

The airline also announced that it was negotiating purchase of three other Bombardier aircraft. However, when the Canadian manufacturer who knew that the airline was in dire need of new aircraft started to set demands, most of which were unacceptable, the airline’s management with the approval of the economic minister Juhan Parts started to look around for an alternative.

It found it in Embraer, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer that was able to offer a much wider choice of aircraft. Both Embraer and Bombardier are fierce competitors since they operate in the same category of aircraft.

Embraer is no newcomer (it was founded in 1969) and is the world’s fourth largest aircraft manufacturer, one place behind Bombardier. Embraer, however is world leader in the segment of regional aviation and this is what makes it so interesting for Estonian Air.

The Estonian carrier has now decided that it will shortly lease three Embraer 170 aircraft from one European airline as a temporary measure until the manufacturer is able to deliver three new Embraer 190 aircraft.

In comment, Estonian pilot coach Rein Porro said that the main reason why Embraer is better than Bombardier is that the latter have notably less space for passengers, luggage and pilots.

Embraers have the widest body in their class and they offer more legroom. Notably, Finnair has 18 Embraer planes, LOT has 27 and Lufthansa has 35.