Re-engineered planes from Embraer’s E-Jet line could be available from as early as 2016 – two years ahead of schedule.
New Embraer E-Jets
Speaking to FlightGlobal.com, Paolo Cesar de Sousa e Silva – the president of the Embraer Commercial Aviation – confirmed that the timing of a newly re-engineered fleet really depends on when the firm chooses a new engine provider.
If Embraer opts for Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan (GTF), then de Sousa e Silva is confident that the second-generation of E-jets could be in the skies by 2016.
On the other hand, if the company waited for new engines from General Electric and Rolls-Royce, then 2018 is a more realistic bet.
E-175, E-190, and E-195
Nonetheless, de Sousa e Silva is confident that the E-175, E-190, and E-195 could all be seeing service “somewhere between 2017-2018”; much earlier than Embraer announced last November.
A decision has yet to be made on the fourth member of the E-class commercial jets, the E-170, it also emerged. However, a new 130-seater version of the E-195 is being considered. This would invariably change the engine requirements from other members of the fleet again.
Flight tracking enthusiasts might be familiar with the 70 to 120-seat capacity E-Jet range, as they are often used to “tap the gap” between larger mainline aircraft and smaller regional jets, explains EmbraerCommercialJets.com.
More than 90 airlines in over 50 countries are flying at least one of the E-Jet series planes.
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