PAUL LEWIS / SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS
The Brazilian manufacturer is considering an expansion of its two regional jet families with smaller models
Embraer is engaged in two different conceptual studies in order to help determine the future direction of the Brazilian company's product development beyond the 170/175 and 190/195 family of large regional jets now in development.
The company has revealed that it is looking at adding a fifth smaller member to its new regional jet series, seating in the range of 54 to 58 passengers. The aircraft would represent between a three and four seat row reduction on the 170's 70-seat capacity and could entail shrinking the 29.9m- (98ft 1in-) long baseline fuselage by as much as 3.5m.
"The aircraft has the potential to be shrunk, but it's a matter of identifying the market potential. The cost would be very low," says Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer 170/190 programme director.
Embraer at the same time has acknowledged it is examining the potential of a future regional jet smaller than the current 37-seat ERJ-135 in the 19-to 35-seat category. Sources within Rolls-Royce have already said that the engine manufacturer has been looking at the feasibility of a new 5,000lb- thrust (22kN-) class engine in conjunction with Embraer studies.
While the company has "no doubts" it could produce an aircraft of this size for less than the cost of its earlier EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop, it is unsure of the market demand in the near term. "Shrinking the 70-seater is something the airlines are talking about. A sub-35-seater is something the engine manufacturers talk about. The big challenge is which airlines would fly such an aircraft," says Fred Curado, Embraer executive vice president commercial.
Embraer's interest in a shrunk 170 is partly driven by Fairchild Dornier's proposed 55-seat shrink of the 728/928JET series, the 528JET, and the prospect of an improved CRJ500 development by Bombardier of the 50-seat CRJ200. The study includes windtunnel tests of the aircraft size and configuration, but Embraer readily admits shrinking the 170 poses some difficult economic challenges in terms of higher seat/km operating costs.
The proposed shrink would not be available at the earliest until after the stretch 108-seat 195 enters service in late 2004, but if there is sufficient market demand it could come ahead of the smaller stretch 98-seat 190 - due to enter service in December 2005. "A fifth member of the family is still down the road, but it's important to be able to discuss with airlines more than just ideas," says Curado.
Source: Flight International
