Embraer will complete development of its innovative production facility for the ERJ-170 and ERJ-190 regional jets by February. Meanwhile, the manufacturer is progressing with the detailed design phase for the 70-seat ERJ-170 and maintaining its aggressive 38-month schedule.
The Brazilian manufacturer is investing $25 million in a 4,500m² (48,500ft²) assembly complex for the new regional jets, comprising an assembly hangar, a paint shop and flight preparation area, with the paint shop due for completion in December and the rest to be ready in February, says Luis Carlos Affonso, ERJ-170/-190 programme director. The assembly hangar will involve a docking system rather than a production line, where up to seven aircraft will be stationary and worked on rather than moving along a line.
Embraer is maintaining its "very aggressive" 38-month schedule for the regional jets, which will see first flight of the ERJ-170 in the fourth quarter of 2001, with certification and deliveries to Crossair in the fourth quarter of 2002. Embraer has 90 firm orders and 105 options for the ERJ-170 from Crossair, Regional Airlines of France and GE Capital Aviation Services. Joint definition of the ERJ-170 has been completed, with the detailed design phase under way, and the first metal cut in mid-July.
The manufacturer is making extensive use of a new virtual reality centre during the design review, allowing the design teams to see every aspect of the aircraft and for design changes to be automatically incorporated. The centre has been "a key tool" to maintaining the schedule. The manufacturer is also using a worldwide intranet linking it with all of its ERJ-170/-190 partners, allowing programme communication and digital mock-up information to be shared.
More than 1000 hours of ERJ-170 wind tunnel tests have been completed, with "very good" results, says Affonso.
Embraer has started initial definition of the 108-seat ERJ-190-200, scheduled for certification and first deliveries to Crossair in mid-2004. Wind tunnel tests for the ERJ-190-200 will start early next year. Development of the 98-seat ERJ-190-100, for which Embraer has yet to win orders, will follow 12 months later.
Source: Flight International
