The Embraer E190-E2 received its type certificate at the beginning of March. (Embraer)
Embraer says it expects to deliver 85-95 commercial aircraft in 2018 as its E190-E2 regional jet enters airline service and the development of the E195-E2 and E175-E2 progresses.
The outlook for the current year was announced on Thursday (Brazil time), when Embraer released its financial results for 2017.
It represents a decline from the 101 commercial aircraft delivered in 2017.
Embraer said the lower delivery target was due to 2018 being the “first year of transition from the E1 to the E2 family of commercial jets”.
“Embraer expects 2018 to be a transition year, as the company ramps up the production of the first E2 model, the E190-E2, which is on track for entry into service (EIS) in April 2018,” Embraer said.
“Deliveries of the E175 model are likely to continue to represent the vast majority of 2018 deliveries, and the E190-E2 should represent between five and 10 deliveries during the year.”
The E190-E2 regional jet received certification from authorities in Brazil, Europe and the United States in early March, paving the way for first delivery to Scandinavia-based carrier Wideroe.
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The aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1900G geared turbofan engines, features new aerodynamically advanced, high-aspect ratio, distinctively shaped wings, and improved systems and avionics, including fourth-generation full fly-by-wire flight controls.
Wideroe’s inaugural flight with the E190-E2 is expected to be on April 24 from Bergen to Tromso.
Embraer’s E190-E2 test aircraft certainly stood out at the Singapore Airshow with its Eye of the Tiger” livery. The E190-E2 was expected to shortly be certified by regulators in Brazil ahead of first delivery to launch customer Widerøe. #SGAirshow#avgeekpic.twitter.com/zSKffFusOz
The other two members of the E2 family, the E195-E2 and E175-E2, are on track to receive certification in the first half of 2019 and in 2021, respectively.
“The E-Jets E2 development program remains on schedule, on budget and better than initially specified,” Embraer said.
At December 31 2017, Embraer had 435 aircraft in its firm order backlog, comprising 155 current generation E-Jets and 280 E2 aircraft.
Embraer offered little update on talks with Boeing on a potential tie-up that was first mooted at the end of 2017, saying only negotiations were ongoing.
“Any business combination between the company and Boeing would be subject to the approval of the Brazilian federal government, Brazilian and international regulators, Boeing, and Embraer,” Embraer said.
“We cannot assure you that a business combination with Boeing will materialise.”
Alongside its Commercial Aircraft business, Embraer is also a significant manufacturer of business jets and military aircraft.
US TAX CUTS TO HELP BUSINESS JET MARKET
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For business jets, Embraer expects to deliver between 105-125 aircraft in 2018, compared with 109 last year.
“Embraer is cautiously optimistic that industry-wide new executive jet deliveries in 2018 could be flat to slightly up relative to 2017, particularly in the context of the potential positive demand impacts of the recently passed Tax Reform Act in the United States, the largest executive jets market in the world,” the company said.
KC-390 FIRST DELIVERY TO BEGIN IN 2018
Meanwhile, Embraer said it expected first delivery of its KC-390 medium-lift and transport to the Brazilian Air Force in the second half of 2018.
The company said the KC-390 attained initial operational capability (IOC) at the end of 2017.
“The achievement of the IOC ensures the necessary conditions have been met for the aircraft to start operations, in accordance with the scope agreed upon with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB),” Embraer said.
“As part of the IOC, Embraer obtained a KC-390 Provisional Type Certificate from the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), which is a testament to the adequacy of the design in fulfilling the demanding certification requirements for transport aircraft.”
Embraer has been marketing the KC-390 to the New Zealand as a potential replacement for the country’s five Lockheed C-130H Hercules, including bringing the aircraft to the country in July 2017 on a demonstration tour. Embraer KC-390 PT-ZNJ at Brisbane Airport in July 2017 en route to New Zealand. (Lance Broad)
El KC-390, presente en el aeropuerto de Wellington, Nueva Zelanda. Que haya una compulsa abierta por el reemplazo de los C-130 de la RNZAF, no tiene naaaada que ver. pic.twitter.com/NT90vMAILD
Embraer advertising at Wellington Airport, via Twitter
VIDEO: The Embraer KC-390 landing at Auckland Airport in July 2017, as posted by YouTube user JustinCaseBR
Brazil has ordered 28 KC-390s, while Portugal has five on order.
In February, Australia’s Adagold Aviation announced it was part of a joint-venture with Portuguese charter and defence aviation services company HiFLy that signed a letter of intent to buy up to six Embraer KC-390 transports for multiple defence projects.
In terms of the financial results, net profit for calendar 2017 rose 49 per cent per cent to US$246.8 million, compared with the prior corresponding period.
Adjusted net profit, which removes one-off items, fell three per cent to US290.5 million.
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