The attractive – and innovative – Embraer 170 that features in the static display at the Dubai airshow is in the middle of an extensive and gruelling week-long sales tour of the region.
The aircraft is making its first visit to the Middle East, giving local operators the chance to see the smaller member of Embraer's new 170/190 (70/110-seat) regional jet family.
Says Embraer's Luiz Fuchs, senior vice-president Europe, Africa and Middle East): "The region is assuming an ever-greater role in world aviation and we are keen to expand our presence here."
Good news
With 245 firm orders and 308 options for the 170/190 family, it's surprising that there have so far been no sales in the Middle East, but Fuchs believes good news won't be long in coming for the Brazilian company.
He says: "We are talking to several regional operators – both in the Middle East and North Africa – about orders of between five and 30 aircraft, although it's hard to be precise about how many and it's unlikely that we'll be able to announce anything at the show."
Now that the teething troubles with the innovative cockpit and fly-by-wire systems have been resolved, the aircraft has obtained provisional certification by the Brazilian airworthiness authority (CTA) and it's hoped that FAA/JAA approval will follow by the end of the first quarter of 2004.
Source: Flight Daily News
