Aircraft

Embraer’s E-190 twinjet has secured 120-minute extended range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) certification from the US FAA.

The rating, which was also granted by the Brazilian CAA (ANAC), increases the permitted single-engine endurance of the E-190 to a maximum of 120 min from the nearest suitable diversion airport.

Speaking at the Aviation & Environment Summit, Embraer president and chief executive Fred Curado says: “We are really working hard to keep all our aircraft up to date.”

He adds that the Brazilian airframer is now preparing to return to the Swiss city next month for the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition where it plans to disclose pricing information and the name of its new mid-size and mid-light business jets, the Embraer MSJ and Embraer MLJ executive jet programmes which will enter service in 2012 and 2013.

The MSJ, with a 3,000 nautical miles (5,560 km) range, and the MLJ, with a 2,300 nautical miles (4,260 km) range, will be positioned between the Legacy 600 and the Phenom 300 in its executive jet range.

Pointing to the latest US$ 750 million research and development budget for the new jet programmes as a symbol of confidence, Curado reports that the challenge for 2008 remains to stay on track to achieve $6.5 billion in revenues – equalling turnover growth of 25%.

“This is a significant increase over last year but I am confident as we have been very very busy in terms of industrial activity. Sales are still good even despite some dark clouds on the economic horizon,” he says

He adds that the Phenom 100 very light jet and super-large Lineage 1000 are proceeding through their respective certification and that the Phenom 300 is being prepared for its first flight at the end of the second quarter.

Certification of the E-175AR remains on schedule later this year which will add an extra 300nm (555 km) to its standard 1,800nm range at full payload.