Embraer ERJ 145 family

ERJ 135/ERJ 140/ERJ 145
110 · 120 · 121 · 135 · 140 · 145 · 170 · 175 · 190 · 195

An ERJ 145 of Air France
Type	Regional jet
Manufacturer	Embraer
Maiden flight	August 11 1995
Introduced	1989
Status	In Service
Primary users	ExpressJet Airlines (262) American Eagle Airlines
Number built	1000 as of October, 2007^[1]
Unit cost	US$16.08M - 22.18M (2006)
Developed from	Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
Variants	R-99 Legacy

The Embraer ERJ 145 family of regional jets are produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135, ERJ 140, and ERJ 145, as well as the Legacy business jet and the R-99 family of military aircraft. The ERJ 145 is the largest of the group. Each jet in the series is powered by two turbofan engines. The family's primary competition comes from the Canadair Regional Jets.

Development

Early design

Embraer ERJ 145XR wing with winglet detail

The ERJ 145 was launched at the Paris Airshow in 1989 as a stretched and turbofan-powered modification of the EMB 120 Brasilia. Key components of this design included:

Straight wing (with winglets)
Wing-mounted engines
Range of 2500 km
75% parts commonality with the EMB 120.

Interim design

By 1990, Embraer engineers found that results from wind-tunnel testing were satisfactory, and began considering a significantly different design from the EMB 120. A modified design was proposed which included:^{[citation needed]}

22.3° swept wing (with winglet)
Wing-mounted engine
Range of 2500 km

Production design

British Airways Citiexpress (then BA Connect, now Flybe) ERJ 145 in British Airways utopia livery Pathania

The second design showed better performance in wind tunnel testing, but the combination of swept wings and wing-mounted engines required an undercarriage which was significantly higher than previous iterations. The design evolved until late 1991, at which time it was frozen. Though the aircraft went through many alterations before it was finalized, it did retain a few of the original influences of the EMB 120 such as the three abreast seating (2+1) configuration. The key features of the production design included:

Rear mounted engines
Swept wings (no winglets)
"T"-tail configuration
Range of 2500km

The company was seen to be at a disadvantage due to the delay in bringing the aircraft to service, partly because of the change in the aircraft's design. The first design was intended to retain as much commonality as possible with the EMB 120 Brasilia. However, the aircraft has sold well thus overcoming the initial setbacks.

City Airline Embraer ERJ 145

City Airline Embraer ERJ 135

Derivatives

The ERJ 140 is based on the ERJ 145 with 96% parts commonality and the same crew-type rating. The only significant changes are a shorter fuselage, a slightly de-tuned engine and an increased range. At launch, Embraer estimated the cost of an ERJ 140 to be approximately $15.2 million U.S. dollars. The estimated cost of development of the ERJ 140 was $45 million US dollars. The ERJ 135, with an entry into service date of 1999, has 95% parts commonality with the ERJ 145, but is 11.7 feet (3.6 m) shorter.

American Eagle ERJ 140

The ERJ 145 seats 50 passengers, while the ERJ 140 seats 44, and the ERJ 135 seats 37. The ERJ 140 was designed with fewer seats in order to meet the needs of airlines based in the United States which have an agreement with the pilot's union as to the number of 50 seat aircraft that can be operated.

In 2003, Embraer entered a partnership with the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation of Harbin, China. The resulting company, Harbin Embraer, began producing the ERJ 145 for the Chinese market by assembling kits premanufactured by other worldwide Embraer operations.

Embraer ERJ 145 cockpit

Operations

The first flight of the ERJ 145 was on 11 August, 1995, with the first delivery in December 1996 to ExpressJet Airlines (then the regional division of Continental Airlines). ExpressJet is the largest operator of the ERJ 145, with 270 of the nearly 1000 ERJ 145s in service. The second largest operator is American Eagle, with 206 ERJ 145 aircraft. Chautauqua Airlines also operates 95 ERJ 145s through its alliances with American Connection, Delta Connection, US Airways Express, Continental Express, and United Express. By some accounts, the ERJ 145 has a cost of ownership of about $2,500,000 per year. In March 2007 ExpressJet entered into a short term agreement to operate some regional routes for JetBlue Airways using its ERJ 145 aircraft.

As of early 2005, 74 ERJ 140s had been built. Though the marketing designation for this aircraft is ERJ 140LR, Embraer's internal designation, and also that of FAA certification, is EMB 135KL.

The ERJ 140 was introduced in September of 1999, first flew on June 27, 2000 and entered commercial service in July of 2001. American Eagle Airlines, the regional jet subsidiary of American Airlines, operates the majority of the ERJ 140s built. Mesa Airlines and Chautauqua Airlines also operate the ERJ 140.

bmi Embraer ERJ 145

Variants

Since production began in 1995, Embraer has produced design modifications.

Civilian models

ERJ 135ER - Extended range, although this is the Baseline 135 model. Simple shrink of the ERJ 145, seating thirteen fewer passengers, for a total of 37 passengers.
ERJ 135LR - Long Range (increased fuel capacity and upgraded engines).
ERJ 140ER - Simple shrink of the ERJ 145, seating six fewer passengers, for a total of 44 passengers.
ERJ 140LR - Long Range (increased fuel capacity and upgraded engines).
ERJ 145STD - The baseline original
ERJ 145EU - Model for European market. Same fuel capacity as 145STD (4174kg) but an increased MTOW 19990kg
ERJ 145ER - Extended Range, although this is the Baseline 145 model.
ERJ 145EP - Same fuel capacity as 145ER (4174kg) but an increased MTOW 20990kg
ERJ 145LR - Long Range (increased fuel capacity and upgraded engines).
ERJ 145LU - Same fuel capacity as 145LR (5187kg) but an increased MTOW 21990kg
ERJ 145MK - Same fuel capacity, landing weight (MLW) and MTOW as in the 145STD (4174kg), but a changed MZFW 17700kg
ERJ 145XR - Extra-long Range (numerous aerodynamic improvements, including winglets, strakes, etc. for fuel efficiency, a ventral fuel tank (aft location) in addition to the two main larger capacity wing tanks( same tanks as in the LR models), increased weight capacity, higher top speed and more powerful engines).
Legacy - Business jet variant is special variant modeled after an ERJ135.

Main article: Embraer Legacy

MTOW - Maximum TakeOff Weight; MZFW - Maximum Zero Fuel Weight

The physical engines are the same (Rolls Royce Allison AE3007), however, the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine/Electronic Control) logic is what differs between the various models in regards to total thrust capability.

Finncomm Airlines ERJ 145

The extended range version, the ERJ-145ER, has Rolls Royce AE 3007A engines rated at 31.3kN with the option of more powerful AE 3007A1 engines. A, A1, A1P models are mechanically identical but differ in thrust due to variations in FADEC software. The A1E engine, however, has not only new software, but significantly upgraded mechanicals "The long range ERJ-145LR aircraft is equipped with Rolls Royce AE 3007A1 engines which provide 15% more power. The engines are flat rated at 33.1kN to provide improved climb characteristics and improved cruise performance in high ambient temperatures.

The extra long range ERJ-145XR aircraft is equipped with Rolls-Royce AE 3007A1E engines. The high performance engines provide lower specific fuel consumption (SFC) and improved performance in hot and high conditions. The engines also yield a higher altitude for one-engine-inoperable conditions."[1] ExpressJet is the sole operator of the ERJ 145XR.

Despite the multiple variants, pilots need only one type rating to fly any variant of the ERJ aircraft. Companies like ExpressJet Airlines utilize this benefit with their mixed fleet of ERJ135ER/LR and ERJ145EP/LR/XR. Shared type ratings allows operators to utilize a single pilot pool for any ERJ aircraft.

Military models

R-99A Airborne Early Warning model

C-99A - Transport model
EMB 145SA (R-99 model A) - Airborne Early Warning model
EMB 145RS (R-99 model B) - Remote sensing model
EMB 145MP/ASW - Maritime patrol model

Operators

Military operators

Civilian operators

The largest operator of ERJs is ExpressJet, under the colors of Continental Airlines.

ERJ 135 - In August 2006 a total of 113 ERJ 135 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service, with 1 further firm order. Major operators include: American Eagle Airlines (39), Chautauqua Airlines (17) and ExpressJet Airlines (30). Smaller numbers of the aircraft are operated by some 9 other airlines.^[2]
ERJ 140 - In August 2006 a total of 74 ERJ 140LR aircraft remain in airline service, with American Eagle Airlines (59) and Chautauqua Airlines (15).^[2]
ERJ 145 - In August 2006 a total of 661 ERJ 145 aircraft (all variants) remain in airline service, with 6 further firm orders. Major operators include: Aerolitoral (19), Alitalia Express (14), Flybe through its acquisition in April 2007 of BA Connect (28), Bmi regional (11), LOT Polish Airlines (11), Luxair (8), PGA - Portugália (8), Régional (28), American Eagle Airlines (108), Chautauqua Airlines (63), ExpressJet Airlines (244), Freedom Airlines (20), Mesa Airlines (16) and Trans States Airlines (48). Some 13 other airlines also operate the aircraft in smaller numbers.^[2]

Accident history

Embraer 145 of the Brazilian Federal Police

The ERJ 145 family of aircraft has no reported crashes or fatalities due to mechanical malfunction. There have been a small number of reported incidents involving the ERJ 145. In one case a Rio-Sul pilot descended beyond the normal rates and landed at a speed significantly higher than the normal landing speed. This aircraft tail section cracked and was dragged along the runway.^[3] In the other case, a Continental Express (ExpressJet) flight overran a Cleveland runway in blizzard conditions; there were no injuries and the aircraft was returned to service. Another ExpressJet aircraft crashed on takeoff in Beaumont, Texas during a training flight; that aircraft was a total loss, but again no injuries were sustained.

On May 2, 2006 two ERJ 145s were involved in separate incidents at two U.S. airports. The first incident involved a Continental Express jet blowing a tire on its left-side landing gear on takeoff at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. The plane landed safely with no injuries.[2] The second incident involved a American Eagle flight which also blew out a tire on takeoff at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The plane skidded off the runway coming to rest 25 feet away in the grass. There were no injuries reported.[3].

A BA Citiexpress Aircraft overshot the runway at Hannover on landing with no injuries to passengers or crew. On June 18, 2006, another incident involved a Continental Express (ExpressJet) ERJ 145. Flight 2482 from Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) to Houston Intercontinental (IAH), made an emergency landing in Victoria, TX after an engine fire filled the lavatory and cabin with smoke. [4]

Specifications (ERJ 140)

Data from ^{[citation needed]}

General characteristics

Crew: 3; pilot, co-pilot, flight attendant
Capacity: 44 passengers
Length: 28.45 m (93 ft 4 in)
Wingspan: 20.04 m (65 ft 9 in)
Height: 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 51.2 m² (551 ft²)
Empty weight: 11,740 kg (25,900 lb)
Loaded weight: 17,100 kg (37,700 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 21,100 kg (46,500 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce AE 3007A turbofan, 33.0 kN (7,420 lb_f) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 834 km/h (518 mph, Mach 0.78)
Range: 3,019 km (1,876 miles)
Service ceiling: 11,278 m (37,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 780 m/min (2,560 ft/min)
Wing loading: 334 kg/m² (68 lb/ft²)

References

^ [ttp://www.aviation.com/business/071004-1000th-embraer-erj.html Embraer Celebrates Completion of 1,000th ERJ]. Aviation.com. October 4, 2007. Retrieved on October 15, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c Flight International, 3-9 October 2006
^ Flight recorder video of Rio-Sul incident YouTube. Retrieved July 18, 2007.

ERJ 145 information at Airliners.net
Embraer Legacy Super Mid-Size Corporate Jet AeroSpace Technology website
Information on Harbin Embraer
EMB-145 Press Release for Rio-Sul Crash
Endres, Gunter and Gething, Mike. (2002). Aircraft Recognition Guide, (2nd Ed.). New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-00-713721-4

External links

ERJ Family official site.

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