News

2020-01-07

E175-E2 Jet Triumphs on its Maiden Flight

The third member of the E-Jets E2 family, the Embraer E175-E2, made its inaugural flight on 12th December taking off from the company’s facility in São José dos Campos, Brazil. As the President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation observes, the maiden flight kicks off a rigorous 24-month flight test campaign.

“The flight of the E175-E2 marks the completion of our vision to produce a family of new-generation commercial aircraft that bring unparalleled cost savings to our customers, exceptional comfort for their passengers and fewer emissions for the planet,” John Slattery said. “The E190-E2 and the E195-E2 are already stellar performers and the E175-E2 is just as impressive. We’re eager to get working on certification. My sincere thanks to every Embraer employee who helped make this day possible.”

Under the command of Embraer’s Captain Mozart Louzada, first officer Wander Almodovar Golfetto and flight engineers Gilberto Meira Cardoso and Mario Ito, the E175-E2 departed at 11:07 a.m. local time from the Faria Lima complex and flew for 2 hours and 18 minutes. The aircraft took off and landed with fly-by-wire (FBW) controls in normal mode, while the crew evaluated aircraft performance, flight quality and systems behaviour.

Embraer will use three aircraft for the E175-E2 certification campaign. The first and second prototypes will be used for aerodynamic, performance and system tests, while the third prototype will be used to validate maintenance tasks and be outfitted with interior furnishings.

Embraer’s World-class E-Jets

With more than 100 customers worldwide, Embraer is a world-leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft of up to 150 seats, while the versatile 70-150 seat family flies with low-cost airlines as well as regional and mainline network carriers. Embraer has logged more than 1,800 E-Jet orders and 1,500 aircraft delivered, with their aircraft flying in the fleets of 80 customers from 50 countries.

The E175-E2 has one additional row of seats compared to the first-generation E175 and can be configured with 80 seats in two classes, or up to 90 in a single class. It saves up to 16 per cent in fuel and per cent in maintenance costs per seat compared to the E175.

Like the E190-E2 and the E195-E2, the E175-E2 promises the longest maintenance intervals in the single-aisle jet category with 10,000 flight hours for basic checks and a no-calendar limit for typical E-Jet operations. Compared to the current generation of E-Jets, these aircraft have an additional 15 days of aircraft utilisation over a period of 10 years.

New E175-E2 Design

Boasting new Pratt & Whitney GTF PW1700G ultra-high bypass-ratio engines, the E175-E2 has completely new wings, full fly-by-wire controls and new landing gear. These features have led to significant improvements, not only in fuel burn but in maintenance costs, emissions and external noise.

Compared to the first-generation E175, 75 per cent of aircraft systems are new and in relation to its predecessor, the E175-E2 successfully delivers double-digit percentage reductions in fuel burn and maintenance costs. On the flight deck, electronic flight-bags allow pilots to access real-time data for continual analysis so that the aircraft flies in the most economical way.

The E2 family have much in common, so reducing spare parts requirements and employing the same ground support equipment while allowing for standardised training and maintenance procedures to lower costs, increase parts logistics efficiency and improve profitability. The same crew qualification across the E2 family means that training is one of the simplest in the industry and, with the benefits of a common family, airline schedulers and crew planners will find last-minute flight changes easy to manage.

The E2 pushes the technical envelope with its optimised design. Meanwhile, the use of smart materials and the high aspect wings contribute to double-digit lower fuel consumption compared to current-generation E-Jets.

As new standards of reliability are designed in, so do longer servicing intervals become possible. The E-enabled on-board maintenance system allows for simple and intuitive troubleshooting, ensuring that maintenance stations can be advised in advance, and expediting repairs for minimal or reduced ground delay.

The E175 E2 has an award-winning interior design giving the feeling of a spacious, wide-bodied aircraft as, with no middle seat; each passenger has an unprecedented level of personal space. The business class segment has a staggered seating concept explaining, amongst other innovative new features, why the E2 cabin was awarded the Crystal Cabin Award in the Industrial Design and Visionary Concepts category.

Smart modularity enables the reconfiguration to maximise the fleet’s flexibility and build on-board airline experience. The cabin is designed for crew efficiency and easy maintenance while on the flight-deck, pilots enjoy ergonomic benefits and safety but a minimised workload.

Benefitting from high-performance capacity and range, the E175-E2 is the ideal tool for operators seeking fresh opportunities in new markets. Carrying a full load of passengers, the E175 E2’s range extends to 2,000nm (3,704km), while an innovative wing and smart use of materials reduces drag and weight for high performance and minimal fuel burn.

Comments () Views (15297 ) Print

Send To Friend