Embraer is to produce an extended-range version of its E-170 and E-175 twin-jets, designated the ‘AR’, and will this month name Northwest Airlines as the launch customer for the E-175AR variant.
The AR version, which is already available for the E-190 and E-195, will add an extra 200nm (370km) to the range of the E-170LR and E-175LR at full payload. The E-170LR’s range is around 1,900nm while that for the E-175LR is about 2,000nm.
Embraer says the AR will extend the LR variants’ endurance by roughly 60-90min.
Speaking at the manufacturer's pre-Paris Air Show briefing in the French capital, Embraer VP for airline market intelligence Luiz Sergio Chiessi said: "Next week we will launch an AR version of the E-170 and E-175.”
This will take place at the US Regional Airline Association convention in Memphis. Sergio Chiessi adds: “Northwest Airlines, which has already signed an E-175 contract, is the launch customer and will fly the AR version in the USA.”
Northwest will take an entire existing order for 36 E-175s as AR versions. These will be operated for Northwest Airlines by its new Compass Airlines subsidiary.
Certification of the E-175AR is expected in the third quarter of 2008, followed by the E-170AR in the fourth quarter of the same year.
The type will require "very small" structural modifications, reinforcing some areas of the fuselage to cater for the additional fuel weight. It will have slightly increased maximum take-off and landing weights.
Compass will initially operate the E-175LR, which will be delivered with some structural modifications to enable an upgrade to the E-175AR.
“It will be delivered in a convertible state,” says Sergio Chiessi, adding demand for the type is expected to stem from the USA rather than Europe.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
