E-195 Type Certified In Brazil; EASA Approval Expected Soon

They're celebrating at Embraer headquarters in São José dos Campos this morning... as the company announced Friday its 118-seat E-195 airliner -- Embraer's largest plane -- received its home market certification from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).

Representatives with Embraer told ANN the E-195 certification campaign confirmed the company's claim of function similarity and parts commonality with the slightly smaller Embraer 190, which resulted in swift validation tests. Only 475 flight hours on two E-195s were necessary to complete the campaign, including development and certification flight tests.

The Embraer 195 is the last member of the E-Jets family to be granted type certification. Embraer reports that in its final configuration, the E-195 was even able to shed some weight... and fuel burn is also better than expected.

Embraer is touting the 100 seat-version of the E-195 as a strong candidate to replace airlines' fleet of older narrowbody planes -- such as Airbus's A318 and A319, as well as smaller variants for Boeing's ubiquitous 737.

Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is expected to follow shortly, paving the way for the first deliveries to low-cost airline Flybe of the UK, which ordered 14 Embraer 195s. Other customers with firm orders for the Embraer 195 are Royal Jordanian and Swiss, and leasing company GECAS.

Embraer says the E-Jets have been ordered by 21 airlines in 17 countries located in North, Central and South America as well as in Europe, Middle East and Asia. E-Jets are flying for regional, network, and low-cost carriers and have accrued so far nearly 355,000 flight hours.

As of March 31, the E-Jets orderbook totaled 452 firm orders and 442 options.

FMI: www.embraer.com