REGIONAL AIRCRAFT MARKET ABUZZ WITH ACTIVITY
The trend for mid- and long-haul operations will continue towards using jet aircraft over turboprops
EMBRAER COMMERCIAL AVIATION IN its 2017 outlook has forecast that the 70 to 130 plus seat regional jet would be the fastest growing segment during the next two decades and there would be a demand for 6,400 new jets of this seat category, with 4,100 being in the 90 plus category and 2,300 being in the 70 to 90 category. The combined market value equates to $300 billion.
The 70- to 130-seat jet world fleet-in-service will become the fastest growing aircraft segment, with an increase from 2,670 in 2015 to 6,690 in 2035. Replacement of ageing aircraft and new market growth represents 37 per cent and 63 per cent respectively.
As regards turboprops, Embraer forecast that there would be a worldwide demand for 2,040 turboprops of 70-seat category by 2035. Some 65 per cent of it is being attributed to market growth and 35 per cent to replacement of ageing aircraft. The trend for
mid- and long-haul operations will continue towards using jet aircraft over turboprops. This is because of the former’s overall operational efficiency, cabin comfort and schedule compatibility with narrow-body jets in hub-and-spoke networks. E-JETS E2 TO LEAD THE PACK. The Embraer E-Jet family is a series of narrow-body medium-range twin-engine jet airliners, carrying 80 to 124 passengers commercially, manufactured by Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer. Launched at the Paris Air Show in 1999, and entering production in 2002, the aircraft series has been a commercial success primarily for its safety and efficiency. The aircraft is used by mainline and regional airlines around the world.
In 2013, Embraer announced a $1.7-billion programme to remodel its E-Jets regional aircraft, to offer 16-24 per cent lower fuel-burn rates and 15-25 per cent lower maintenance costs. The three variants — E175-E2, E190-E2, and E195-E2 — have a common fuselage design but different lengths, and each has a different wing design. The jets are powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared-turbofan engines.
The Embraer E-Jets line is composed of two main commercial families and a business jet variant. The smaller E170 and E175 make up the base model aircraft. The E190 and E195 are stretched versions, with different engines and larger wings, horizontal stabiliser and landing gear structures. The 170 and 175 share 95 per cent commonality, as do the 190 and 195. The two families share nearly 89 per cent commonality, with identical fuselage cross-sections and avionics, featuring the Honeywell Primus Epic Electronic Flight instrument system. All E-Jets use four-abreast seating (2+2) and have a “double-bubble” design, which Embraer developed for its commercial passenger jets, that provides standup headroom. The E-Jets have turbofan engines designed to reduce noise, which allows them to operate in airports that have strict noise restrictions, such as London City Airport.
Now that the E190-E2 is flying, the other E2s are starting to take shape. On March 29, Embraer’s largest commercial jet took off on its maiden flight, from the runway at the São José dos Campos facility, ahead of schedule. The flight kicks off the start of the E195-E2 certification campaign in which two aircraft will be used — one for aerodynamic and performance tests, the other to validate maintenance tasks and the interior. The second E195-E2 is scheduled to fly by the end of this year. The first E195-E2 is planned to be delivered to Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras in 2019. The E195-E2 is the last and largest of the
THE 70- TO 130-SEAT JET WORLD FLEET-IN-SERVICE WILL BECOME THE FASTEST GROWING AIRCRAFT SEGMENT, WITH AN INCREASE FROM 2,670 IN 2015 TO 6,690 IN 2035