MAX KINGSLEY JONES / SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS
Embraer flew the second pre-production 170 regional jet last week, as it battles to keep the certification programme for the 70-seater on schedule. The Brazilian manufacturer says it will provide an update on the flight-test programme by the end of this month, as it faces the prospect of a two-month delay to certification and first deliveries to its launch customer Swiss.
The first pre-series aircraft flew on 19 February, around eight weeks behind schedule, and has accumulated 39h of the 2,200 flight-test hours. The second aircraft flew on 10 April, painted in the colours of Swiss's predecessor Crossair, and the company intends to have all six test aircraft flying in the certification programme by the end of June.
Although it is still publicly committed to the original December target, Embraer now concedes it may have to delay certification. "If there is a slippage, it will be of the same order as the delay to the first flight," says Embraer's director of 170/190 programmes Luis Affonso.
Swiss is due to receive the first of 30 Embraer 170s by the end of the year, but delivery of the remainder is not due to begin until next March, says Affonso, "which helps us [if there is a delay]".
According to Affonso, Embraer will deliver around 30 170s next year, and production at its Sao Jose dos Campos plant will reach three a month by the end of 2003.
Development of the 78-seat 175 and 110-seat 195 is under way, with certification planned for mid- and late 2004 respectively. Although no orders have been announced for the 175, Embraer is moving ahead with the project and the first 175 will be among the initial batch of 15 Embraer 170s built. "We will roll out the first 175 in mid-2003," says Affonso. Embraer says 175 launch customer candidates include Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, and LOT.
Source: Flight International
