Embraer E-Jet family

During the 1990s, the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer had introduced the ERJ family, its first jet-powered regional jet.[2] As demand for the ERJ series proved strong even early on, the company decided that it could not rely on one family of aircraft alone and examined its options for producing a complimentary regional jet, including designs that would be larger and more advanced than its preceding aircraft.[3][4]

Four-abreast seating in a Virgin Australia E190

During March 1997, Embraer made its first public disclosure that it was studying a new 70-seat aircraft, which was initially referred to as the EMB 170; this reveal was issued concurrently with the announcement of the development of the ERJ 135.[5] As originally conceived, the EMB 170 was to feature a new wing and larger-diameter fuselage mated to the nose and cockpit of the ERJ 145.[6] The proposed derivative would have cost $450 million to develop.[7] While Alenia, Aerospatiale and British Aerospace through AI(R) were studying the Airjet 70 based on the ATR 42/72 fuselage for a 2,200 km (1,200 nmi) range, AI(R) and Embraer were studying a joint development of a 70-seater jet since their separate projects were not yet launched.[8]

In February 1999, Embraer announced it had abandoned the derivative approach in favour of an all-new design.[9][3] On 14 June 1999, the E-Jet family was formally launched at the Paris Air Show,[10] initially using the twin designations ERJ-170 and ERJ-190; these were subsequently changed to Embraer 170 and Embraer 190 respectively. The launch customers for the airliner were the French airline Régional, which placed ten orders and five options for the E170, and the Swiss airline Crossair, which had ordered 30 E170s and 30 E190s.[11]

During July 2000, production of components for the construction of both the prototype and test airframes began.[9] Difficulties with the advanced avionics selected for the aircraft, supplied by the American company Honeywell, led to delays in the development schedule; originally, the first flight had been set to take place during 2000.[12] On 29 October 2001, the first prototype PP-XJE was rolled out at São José dos Campos, Brazil.[13][10]

On 19 February 2002, the first prototype performed its maiden flight, marking the beginning of a multi-year flight test campaign involving a total of six prototypes.[14] In May 2002, the aircraft was displayed to the public at the Regional Airline Association convention. During that same year, full-rate production of the E-Jet commenced; this activity was centred around a recently-completed factory built by Embraer at its São José dos Campos base.[15]

After a positive response from the airline community, Embraer launched the E175, which stretched the fuselage of the E170 by 1.78 metres (5.8 ft).[16] During June 2003, the first flight of the E175 took place.[17] In April 2003, jetBlue placed an order for 100 Embraer 190s, the deliveries of which commenced two years later.[18]

Following several delays in the certification process, the E170 received type certification from the civil aviation authorities of Brazil, Europe and the United States in February 2004.[17]

In 2008, the 400th E-jet was delivered to Republic Airways in the U.S. In September 2009, the 600th E-jet built was delivered to LOT Polish Airlines.[19] On 10 October 2012, Embraer delivered the 900th E-Jet to Kenya Airways, its 12th Ejet.[20] On 13 September 2013, the delivery of the 1,000th E-Jet, an E175 to Republic Airways for American Eagle, was marked by a ceremony held at the Embraer factory in São José dos Campos, with a special "1,000th E-Jet" decal above the cabin windows.[21]

On 6 December 2017, the 1,400th E-Jet was delivered, an E175; it had a backlog of over 150 firm orders on 30 September 2017.[22] On 18 December 2018, Embraer delivered the 1,500th E-Jet, an E175 to Alaska Air subsidiary Horizon Air, as Embraer claims an 80% market share of the North American 76-seaters. By this point, the fleet had completed 25 million flight hours in 18 million cycles (an average of 1.4 h) with a 99.9% dependability.[23]

An E190-E2 of Widerøe, its launch operator

In November 2011, Embraer announced that it would develop revamped versions of the E-Jet to be called the E-Jet E2 family. The new jets would feature improved engines that would be more fuel efficient and take advantage of new technologies.[24] Beyond the new engines, the E2 family would also feature new wings, improved avionics, and other improvements to the aircraft. The move came amid a period of high global fuel costs and better positions Embraer as competitors introduced new and more fuel efficient jets, including the Mitsubishi Regional Jet.[25] The new aircraft family also includes a much larger variant, the E195-E2 capable of carrying between 120 and 146 passengers. This jet better positions Embraer against the competing Airbus A220 aircraft. The PW1000G was previously selected for use on competing aircraft.

In January 2013, Embraer selected the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan engine to power the E2 family.[26] On 28 February 2018, The E190-E2 received its type certificate from the ANAC, FAA and EASA.[27] It was scheduled to enter service in the second quarter of 2018.[28]

The E170 is the smallest aircraft in the E-Jet family and was the first to enter revenue service in March 2004. As of 2017, the E170 is largely out of production.[52] The E170 typically seats around 72 passengers in a typical single class configuration, 66 in a dual class configuration, and up to 78 in a high density configuration. The E170 directly competes with the Bombardier CRJ700 and loosely with the turboprop Bombardier Q400.

The jet is powered with General Electric CF34-8E engines of 14,200 pounds (62.28 kN) thrust each.

A United Express/SkyWest Airlines E175, with the angled winglets of later models

The E175 is a slightly stretched version of the E170 and first entered revenue service with launch customer Air Canada in July 2005.[17] The E175 typically seats around 78 passengers in a typical single class configuration, 76 in a dual-class configuration, and up to 88 in a high-density configuration. Like the E170, It is powered with General Electric CF34-8E engines of 14,200 pounds (62.28 kN) of thrust each. It competes with the Bombardier CRJ900 in the market segment previously occupied by the earlier BAe 146 and Fokker 70.

The E175 initially comes with E170 style winglets. This was changed starting in 2014 to angled winglets as part of an efficiency improvement package. The angled winglets increase the wingspan from 26.00m (85 ft 4 in) to 28.65m (93 ft 11 in).[53] This winglet change was only made available to the E175 version.[54][55]

In late 2017, Embraer announced the E175SC (special configuration), limited to 70 seats like the E170 to take advantage of the E175 performance improvements, but still comply with US airline scope clauses limiting operators to 70 seats. Embraer is marketing the E175SC as a replacement for the older 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 with better efficiency and a larger first class.[56]

In 2018, a new E175 has a value of US$27 million, projected to fall to US$3–8 million 13 years later due to their concentration in the US with more than 450 in service out of 560, with Republic and SkyWest operating over 120 each, Compass 35 and Envoy Air 90, after the similar experience with the CRJ200 and ERJ 145 demonstrates the limited remarketing opportunities.[57]

The E190 launch customer JetBlue took its first delivery in 2005.

Flybe started E195 operations on 22 September 2006.

The E190/195 models are larger stretches of the E170/175 models fitted with a new, larger wing, a larger horizontal stabilizer, two emergency overwing exits, and a new engine. The E190/195 is fitted with two underwing-mounted GE 34-8E-10 turbofan engines, rated at 82.29 kN (18,500 lbf). The engines and engine nacelles are supplied by General Electric. The engines are equipped with full authority digital engine control (FADEC). The fully redundant, computerized management system continuously optimizes the engine performance resulting in reduced fuel consumption and maintenance requirements. The aircraft carries 13,000 kg of fuel and is fitted with a Parker Hannifin fuel system.

Two slightly different versions of the E190[58] and the E195[59] exist: LR and AR.

The aircraft is equipped with a Hamilton Sundstrand auxiliary power unit and electrical system. The GE CF34-10E, rated at 18,500 lb (82.30 kN), is the only powerplant offered for the aircraft. These aircraft compete with the Bombardier CRJ-1000 and Airbus A220-100, the Boeing 717, 737-500, and 737-600, and the Airbus A318. It can carry up to 100 passengers in a two-class configuration or up to 124 in the single-class high-density configuration.[60]

On 12 March 2004, the first flight of the E190 (PP-XMA) took place,[61] while the first flight of the E195 (PP-XMJ) occurred on 7 December of that year.[61] The launch customer of the E190 was New York-based low-cost carrier JetBlue with 100 orders options in 2003 and took its first delivery in 2005.[18] British low-cost carrier Flybe was the first operator of the E195, had 14 orders and 12 options, and started E195 operations on 22 September 2006.[62] Flybe have since decided that they would remove the aircraft from their fleet in favour of the Dash 8 Q400 and Embraer 175, in an effort to reduce costs, by 2020.[63]

Air Canada operated 18 E190 aircraft fitted with 9 business-class and 88 economy-class seats as part of its primary fleet. They were retired in May 2020. JetBlue, American Airlines, and Georgian Airways operate the E190 as part of their own fleet. Austrian Airlines have 17 E195 aircraft in their mainline fleet.[64]

By 2018, early E190s were valued at under US$10 million and could be leased for less than US$100,000 per month, while the most recent aircraft were worth US$30 million and could be leased for less than US$200,000 per month.[65]

On 7 March 2022, Embraer confirmed their intent to enter the cargo market, offering E-190s and E-195s converted to freighters. The first ones will make their first flights in 2024.[66]

Lineage 1000 cabin

On 2 May 2006, Embraer announced plans for the business jet variant of the E190, the Embraer Lineage 1000 (type name ERJ190-100 ECJ). It has the same structure as the E190, but with an extended range of up to 4,200 nmi (7,800 km), and luxury seating for up to 19. It was certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration on 7 January 2009. The first two production aircraft were delivered in December 2008.

Embraer considered producing an aircraft which was known as the E195X, a stretched version of the E195. It would have seated approximately 130 passengers. The E195X was apparently a response to an American Airlines request for an aircraft to replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-80s.[67] Embraer abandoned plans for the 195X in May 2010, following concerns that its flight range would be too short.[68]

The commercial names used for the E170 and E190 families differ from the official model designations, as used (for instance) with the Type-Certificates, and in national registries.[69][70]

List of Embraer's E-Jet family deliveries and orders:

Source: Embraer's order book as of June 30, 2022.[1][72]

• On 24 August 2010, Henan Airlines Flight 8387, an E190 that departed from Harbin, People's Republic of China, crash-landed about 1 km short of the runway at Yichun Lindu Airport, resulting in 44 deaths.[74]
• On 29 June 2012, during Tianjin Airlines Flight 7554 in China, six passengers carrying explosives stood up and announced a hijacking but were subdued by the other occupants, the E190 returned to Hotan Airport where the hijackers were apprehended and two of them later died in hospital from injuries received in the fight.[75]
• On 29 November 2013, LAM Mozambique Airlines Flight 470, an E190, crashed in Namibia, killing all 33 aboard (27 passengers, 6 crew members) by the deliberate actions of the pilot.[76] The first officer reportedly left the cockpit to use the bathroom. He was then locked out by the captain, who dramatically reduced the aircraft's altitude and ignored various automated warnings ahead of the high-speed impact.[77]

• On 17 July 2007, Aero República Flight 7330 overran the runway while landing at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Santa Marta, Colombia. The E190 slid down an embankment off the side of the runway and came to rest with the nose in shallow water. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair, but all 60 aboard evacuated unharmed.[78]
• On 16 September 2011, an E190 operated by TAME landed long and ran off the end of the runway at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, colliding with approach equipment and a brick wall. The crew reportedly failed to adhere to the manufacturer's procedures in the event of a flap malfunction, continuing the approach in spite of the aircraft's condition. Eleven of the 103 aboard received minor injuries, and the aircraft was written off.[79]
• On 31 July 2018, Aeroméxico Connect Flight 2431, an E190 bound for Mexico City, crashed in Durango, Mexico shortly after takeoff. 99 passengers and 4 crew were on board. Although there were no fatalities, the aircraft was destroyed by the ensuing fire.[80] The probable cause was attributed to "loss of control [...] by low altitude windshear that caused a loss of speed and lift" with contributing factors from the crew and the Navigation Services.[81]
• On 11 November 2018 Air Astana Flight 1388 on a flight from Alverca Airbase, Portugal, to Almaty suffered severe control issues including flipping over and diving sharply. The crew activated the direct mode for flight controls which allowed sufficient control to make an emergency landing at the third attempt at Beja Airbase in Portugal with serious damage sustained during these high-G maneuvers. It was subsequently written-off and broken up. The investigation revealed that the aileron cables were installed incorrectly, causing reversal of aileron controls. The investigation blamed the manufacturer of the airplane for the poorly made maintenance instructions, the supervising authorities for lack of oversight over the maintenance crew, who lacked the skill to perform the heavy maintenance, and the flight crew for failing to notice the condition during pre-flight control checks.[82]

• On 18 February 2007, Shuttle America Flight 6448 (an E170 operating for Delta Connection) ran off the runway on landing at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Ohio in poor visibility during a snowstorm. None of the 75 passengers and crew aboard were injured, and the aircraft, while significantly damaged, was repaired and returned to service.[83]
• On 4 December 2016, SkyWest Airlines flight 5588, an E175 operating as a United Express flight from Houston Intercontinental Airport, Texas to Monterrey, Mexico, was diverted to San Antonio International Airport, Texas after experiencing an abnormal landing gear indication. Upon landing, the nose gear of the aircraft collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest on runway 04. Of the 51 passengers and 4 crew members, only one minor injury was sustained during the evacuation. During recovery of the aircraft, it was discovered that a failed downlock spring on the nose gear had prevented the landing gear from locking in the down position.[84][85]
• On 12 May 2019, Myanmar National Airlines E190 flight UB-103 to Mandalay, Myanmar had to land without the nosewheel, which failed to deploy. There were no casualties reported among the 82 passengers and seven crew.[86]
• On 6 November 2019, a Republic Airways E175 operating American Eagle Flight 4439 returned to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport after suffering severe controllability issues after takeoff: ATC flight data recorded the crew stating a "trim runaway" and a "stalling situation". The data shows the aircraft rapidly climbing to 15,100 ft (4,600 m), slowing down to 160 knots (300 km/h), while performing nearly two full right turns.[87][88][89][90][91][92]

• Eden, Paul E. "The World's Most Powerful Civilian Aircraft." Rosen Publishing Group, 2016. ISBN 1-4994-6589-0.