Alexandre Rocha
São Paulo – Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer will be releasing (roll out) their new commercial aeroplane, Embraer 190, the third in their new regional jet line. With a capacity for up to 108 passengers, the aeroplane is the largest ever produced by the company and should have its inaugural flight still this week. The event for presentation of the aircraft, to take place at the company head office in the city of São José dos Campos (in the interior of the southeastern state of São Paulo), will include the presence of Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and São Paulo state governor Geraldo Alckmin.
Even before the release, Embraer has already received 110 orders for the new model, the first 100 by North American airline Jet Blue, in a US$ 3 billion contract. Based on this value, the aircraft price is estimated at around US$ 30 million. An order for another 10 aeroplanes was made by another customer, whose name Embraer has not revealed.
Embraer is negotiating the sale of another 45 units of the 190 to Air Canada. If such a deal is closed, it should bring the company revenues of US$ 1.35 billion.
Aeroplane certification (liberation for commercial flying) should take place in the third quarter of 2005 and first delivery to Jet Blue should take place by the end of the same year.
Apart from the 190, the new company regional jet line also includes the Embraer 170, to transport between 70 and 78 passengers, with certification and first delivery, to Alitalia, scheduled for this month. Initial certification of the model was expected last year, but, according to the company, problems with documentation for the flight software caused a delay.
The company also produces Embraer 175, with a capacity for between 78 and 86 passengers. This model had its maiden flight in June last year and the company forecasts certification for the second quarter of this year.
The 190 will not be the largest Embraer aircraft for long, soon being overtaken by the 195, which will have a capacity for up to 118 passengers and, according to the company site (www.embraer.com.br), should have its maiden flight in the third quarter of this year, with certification in the second quarter of 2006.
