The E2 Edge

This family of aircraft from Brazilian aerospace major Embraer is the latest addition to give competition to narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, Boeing 737 MAX, Bombardier CSeries, Mitsubishi MRJ90 and COMAC C919

ON FEBRUARY 25, BRAZILIAN aerospace major Embraer rolled out in São José dos Campos, its new E190-E2 jet, marking the start of a new generation of regional family aircraft. It was a historic moment for the Brazilian company as it shifts into top gear. On the jubilant occasion, the President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation, Paulo Cesar Silva, said: “Today we have taken another step into the future of Embraer commercial aviation with the world premiere of our second-generation E-Jets.” The E2 family aircraft is a major upgrade to the original E-Jet series launched over a decade ago. The new family will comprise the E175-E2, the smallest member of the family, the E190-E2 and the stretched E195-E2. The E2 was launched at the Paris Airshow in 2013. It includes a new, modern wing, improved aerodynamics and systems. It also incorporates a new power plant. Embraer selected the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) PW1000G, in lieu of the General Electric CF34.

The E2 is a generational shift, offering not only improved fuel burn, but also reducing carbon footprint and noise levels. Besides, the range of the E2 has been significantly increased over the current-generation of aircraft. In the case of the E190-E2, range was increased by 400 nautical miles (741 km) to cover distances of up to 2,800 nautical miles (5,186 km). The E2 also offers improvements in the passenger cabin, giving airlines a flexibility that will make them happy on revenues. Embraer has redesigned the cabin to include larger passenger bins, keeping the same 2+2 standard seating arrangement, with

THE MOST BENEFICIAL ASPECT IS THE COMMON TYPE RATING BETWEEN CURRENT-GENERATION E-JETS AND THE E2S, MAKING IT EASY TO TRANSITION BETWEEN AIRCRAFT

97 seats in a two-class cabin configuration or 106 in a singleclass layout, while retaining the fuselage design.

A comparison of the E-Jets family of E175, E190 and E195 with that of E175-E2; E190-E2 and E195-E2 clearly reflects the edge the new generation of aircraft is going to offer customers across the world.

E-JETS FAMILY (E175; E190 & E195)

Embraer states that with an E175, airlines can tap the gap between regional and mainline aircraft. The E175s flexible configuration lets the airline determine the optimal number of seats it needs to match capacity to market demand. Moreover, there is complete family commonality making it easy to introduce larger E-Jets to serve the 70- to 120-seat segment.

In the case of the E190 with 100-seat capacity, it replaces old generation jets, right sizes fleets, supplements or replaces mainline flying and opens new markets. Single class, dual class, LCC, long or short haul, the E190 has the versatility to go the distance.

The advanced range (AR) version of the E175 can carry a full load of passengers up to 2,200 nm (4,074 km). The AR version of the E190 can carry a full load of passengers up to 2,400 nm (4,537 km). The AR version of the E195 can carry a full load of passengers up to 2,300 nm (4,260 km).

COMMONALITY

A high degree of spare parts commonality among the E-Jets family (up to 86 per cent) delivers cost savings right to the bottom line. Inventories are reduced, maintenance procedures streamlined, and crew training and transition expenses are minimised. With cross crew qualification, differences training, differences checking and recurrent training are some of the simplest in the industry and use the latest computerbased training and simulator tools. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grades E-Jet training in each of these categories at level A. There are minimal training differences instruction required for maintenance personnel and flight attendants and none for flight dispatchers or operations engineers. With the benefits of a common family, airline schedulers and crew planners will find last-minute equipment changes easier to accommodate.

QUICK TURNAROUND

Since they are designed for fast, efficient, simultaneous, multipoint ground servicing thanks to four main cabin doors and two easily accessible cargo holds, E-Jets can turnaround in as few as 15 minutes. Less time on the ground means greater productivity and higher daily utilisation, which helps to keep seat mile/ kilometre costs low. So is the case for the E2s.

MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

A streamlined maintenance programme, a high degree of parts commonality among the family and fast turnaround times increase overall utilisation and efficiency while decreasing unit costs. Embraer has developed AHeAD-PRO, an innovative aircraft health, analysis and diagnostic system available on every E-Jet. AHeAd-PRO is a computational, web-based platform that allows airlines to continuously monitor the performance of an E-Jet while in flight. It regularly transmits fault identification data for analysis by ground personnel so they can plan maintenance remedies at a downline station.

ENGINEERING

E-Jets have a central brain called the CMC—the central maintenance computer. All major E-Jet systems have an interface with the CMC that collects fault reports, stores maintenance messages and assists troubleshooting. The information can be accessed from the cockpit and from four LAN ports on the aircraft via a laptop computer for fast downloading and analysis.

E-Jets incorporate a human-centred design approach emphasising physical and cognitive requirements and abilities. The ergonomic placement of instruments and controls in a dark and quiet environment creates unsurpassed situational awareness that reduces pilot workload. The Honeywell Primus Epic digital avionics suite has five large-format, 8 x 10-inch, active matrix liquid crystal displays. The ‘smart’ flat panels present information in a clean, simplified arrangement. Airlines can choose to configure their E-Jet flight decks with heads up displays (HUD). E-Jets were the first commercial aircraft to have dual HUD.

FLY BY WIRE

E-Jets incorporate fly-by-wire technology that helps to reduce pilot workload, improves aircraft performance, simplifies systems architecture and minimises weight and maintenance.

DOUBLE-BUBBLE

E-Jets are designed from a double-bubble fuselage concept, a shape derived from vertically overlapping two ovals to produce a four-abreast cross section. The widest point of the upper oval, which forms the main cabin, is at elbow level when passengers are seated. This maximises personal space and allows the installation of wider seats and a wider aisle compared to most larger jets. The width of the lower oval is greatest near the cabin floor which boosts baggage and cargo capacity.

ENVIRONMENT E-JETS E2 FAMILY

General Electric’s CF34 engine is designed to be more efficient – CO, UHC, NOx and smoke emission margins range from 26 per cent to an impressive 98 per cent below ICAO Annex 16 (Volume II) CAEP/6 limits for the E170/E175 and from 9 per cent to 77 per cent for the E190/E195. Whether it is single class or dual class or multi class, the configuration flexibility of the E175-E2 and its ample range make it suitable for regional or mainline business applications. In the single class configuration, 88 seats can be fitted with a 31” pitch and in dual class 80 seats (8 seats in 36” and 72 seats in 31” pitch).

The E190-E2 can be configured with 106 seats in 31” pitch in single class and 97 seats in dual class (9 seats at 38” and 88 seats in 31” pitch). The E195-E2 can be configured with 132 seats in 31” pitch and 120 seats in dual class (12 in 38” and 108 in 31” pitch). It is ideally positioned between larger new generation, single aisle jets and smaller capacity equipment. Flying in mainline, regional or low-fare environments, the operating economics of the E195-E2 are the best among aircraft in its category.