Embraer is confident that the re-engined E2 E-Jet series will meet its development timeline, despite delays to other recent aircraft programmes.
John Slattery, the airframer’s head of commercial, told Flightglobal in a recent interview that the programme is “right on top of the schedule of development.”
“We remain confident of the entry into service dates of the first half of 2018 for the E190, the first half of 2019 for the E195 and the first half of 2020 for the E175,” he says.
Slattery adds that the same team that managed the development of the original E-Jet series, now referred to as the E1, is managing the E2 development path.
With the announcement of an order for 50 E2s and 50 options from Indian carrier Air Costa at the Singapore air show, Embraer now holds 200 firm orders for the upgraded aircraft series.
Lessor ILFC and US regional carrier SkyWest Airlines are the other firm order customers that helped to launch the E2 at the Paris Air Show in June last year.
Asked about his confidence in the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G turbofan that will power the E2, Slattery says that among customers there is “amazing enthusiasm” for the new engine.
He adds that given the first E2 will not enter service until after the GTF-powered A320neo and Bombardier CSeries do, there is less risk for its platform.
“We’re the beneficiaries of being a second mover,” says Slattery. “Assuming that the CSeries enters service on the timeline they’ve now announced, the engines on the CS100 will have been proven and the ‘squawks’ will be taken out, if there are any.”
Source: Cirium Dashboard
