Embraer E-Jet E2 family
Embraer E-Jet E2 family
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Embraer E-Jet E2 family

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Embraer E-Jet E2 family

The Embraer E-Jet E2 family is a series of four-abreast narrow-body airliners designed and produced by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer. The twinjet is an incremental development of the original E-Jet family, adopting the more fuel-efficient Pratt & Whitney PW1900G, a geared turbofan engine. The aircraft family comprises three variants that share the same fuselage cross-section with different lengths and feature three different redesigned wings, fly-by-wire controls with new avionics, and an updated cabin. The variants offer maximum take-off weights from 44.6 to 62.5 t (98,000 to 138,000 lb), and cover a range of 2,000–3,000 nmi (3,700–5,600 km; 2,300–3,500 mi).

The program was launched at the Paris Air Show in June 2013. The first variant, the E190-E2, made its maiden flight on 23 May 2016 and flight testing proceeded to schedule with little issue. It received certification on 28 February 2018 before entering service with launch customer Widerøe on 24 April. Certification of the larger E195-E2 was received during April 2019; Azul Brazilian Airlines was the first airline to operate this model. The smaller E175-E2 was originally set to be delivered in 2021, but has been delayed past 2027 due to a lack of demand. Regional airlines in the United States were a major customer of the first-generation of E-Jets, however scope clause agreements have prevented them from purchasing the heavier E175-E2.

The E-190 E2 and E-195 E2 variants compete with the Airbus A220 family aircraft, particularly its smaller A220-100 variant. As of April 2024, a total of 306 E-Jet E2s have been ordered with 114 delivered and all are in commercial service. Sales for the E-Jet E2 program have been slow, particularly in light of the issues with the weight of the E175-E2.

During the early 2010s, the regional jets segment of the international airliner market grew more competitive with the announcement of the Airbus A320neo and the Boeing 737 MAX, thus it was thought that Embraer would have to respond or else lose the competitiveness of the E-Jet family through inaction. In 2010, Embraer was reportedly considering directly challenging the Bombardier CSeries (now A220) by developing a clean-sheet five-abreast airliner for 100 to 150 passengers. The alternative option was to somehow improve the E-Jet family to maintain its attractiveness to customers.

In November 2011, Embraer announced at the Dubai Air Show that it had committed to developing new generation of its E-Jet family. This option was both lower risk and lower cost than pursuing a clean sheet design. At the time, Embraer reportedly foresaw a demand for 6,400 commercial jets with capacity of up to 130 seats over the following 20 years. The smallest of the new variants, the E-175-E2, seats up to 88 passengers in a single class configuration, the medium-sized E-190-E2 seats up to 120 passengers, while the largest model, the E-195-E2 seats up to 150 passengers. During the late 2000s, Embraer had studied an aircraft of such capacity, dubbed the E-195X, but had discarded the concept in 2010 in light of degraded aircraft performance in the absence of a re-engine. On account of its poor sales and decreasing demand for 70 seat jets, a redesigned counterpart to the E-170 was not pursued.

One key feature of these new variants would be more efficient engines with larger diameter fans; several large engine manufacturers, GE Aviation, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce, were all evaluated by Embraer as possible suppliers. During January 2013, it was announced the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G, a geared turbofan, had been selected to be the exclusive engine of the E2. Embraer commercial aircraft president Paulo Cesar de Souza e Silva noted that the PW1000G was the best suited engine for the performance sought by customers. The selection of the PW1000G is likely to have been eased by the parallel development of the smaller PW1200G engine for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet as well as the larger and more mature PW1500G for the Airbus A220.

The E2 family made various improvements in its performance, such as a reduced specific fuel consumption, lower emissions and noise output, minimised maintenance costs, along with the use of a new aluminum or carbon fiber-based wing. These wings had a higher aspect ratio, a longer wingspan, and were equipped with raked wingtips instead of winglets. In early 2013, Embraer referred to this project as being "the E-jets second generation". During June 2013, the $1.7 billion program was launched at the Paris Air Show, citing strong customer demand.

The development programme made extensive use of digital model simulations and static test rigs, enabling rapid progress to be made early on. By May 2016, less than three years after being launched, the E2 had 640 commitments from various airlines and leasing companies, 267 of which were firm orders while 373 were options and purchase rights.

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