First of the Family of Brazil's Newest 'Liners
Embraer announced Monday the maiden flight of the
EMBRAER 175, the second member of a family of four new-generation
commercial jets specifically designed for markets optimized with
70- to 110-seat equipment. The complete aircraft family is composed
of the EMBRAER 170, EMBRAER 175, EMBRAER 190 and EMBRAER 195.
The aircraft, serial number 0014, took off this Saturday from
the company's Sao Jose dos Campos facility at 11:50 AM, accompanied
by its sibling (Embraer 170 S/N 007), for a 120-minute flight in
which it performed a range of systems validation tests.
"We are very pleased to see another member of the Embraer
170/190 family taking to the skies for the first time," said
Embraer's President and CEO Mauricio Botelho. "It is another
important milestone in our main objective to develop and produce a
whole new generation of jetliners for the 70- to 110- seat segment,
offering an unparalleled combination of performance, operating
economics and passenger comfort, able to meet and exceed the new
and challenging requirements of the air transport industry."
The Embraer 175's spacious four-abreast cabin can be configured
with 78 to 86 seats in single class, as well as with premium seats
for dual-class service. The aircraft's double-bubble fuselage
ensures maximum passenger comfort and stowage space for longer
flights within the 175's 1,800 nm range.
Plug-and-play in the fleet:
With a 70in (178cm) longer fuselage than the -170, the new
Embraer 175 offers approximately 10% more seat & cargo
capacity, yet shares a common pilot type rating, a common cockpit,
common flying qualities with the fly-by-wire system, and a common
engine, the GE CF34-8E. Embraer's order book for the EMBRAER
170/190 family currently stands at 234 firm orders and 289 options.
This first Embraer 175 aircraft will be used for handling qualities
and performance evaluation tests, while the second, set to fly in
the coming weeks, will be employed for flutter, buffeting, systems
and interior testing.
First in the family, the Embraer 170 is completing its flight
and certification program and will be delivered to Alitalia this
year. The EMBRAER 175 certification is due in the third quarter
2004. Embraer, CTA, JAA and FAA (respectively the Brazilian,
European and U.S. certification authorities) technicians have been
meeting regularly to discuss aspects of the 175's certification
since the very early stages of its development.