Embraer the world’s leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft up to 150 seats stopped off at Fireblade Aviation at OR Tambo international Airport during their global demonstration tour of the E195-E2 on Thursday 28 November. The tour follows what Embraer called a successful debut of the airplane at June’s Paris Air Show, where the company displayed its largest jet in its “TechLion” livery. Embraer had flown the airplane to several destinations in Africa with South Africa being the second last stop on the continent, the Africa leg of the tour kicked off at the Dubai Airshow.
The E195-E2 is the largest aircraft in the E-Jet E2 family and has been designed to maximize returns and efficiency on high-density routes. With its high-aspect ratio wings and swept tips, combined with other aerodynamic improvements, the E195-E2 achieves 25.4% less fuel usage per seat. Its maximum range extends 2,600 nautical miles with a full passenger load, or 600 nm more than the E195, and it carries three more rows of seats, bringing its single class capacity to 146 or 120 seats in a dual class configuration.
High-aspect ratio wings and swept tips
Seating Map
The Embraer E195-E2 received type certification simultaneously from three regulatory authorities: ANAC (the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency), the FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration) and EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) in April this year. Along with its sister aircraft the E190-E2 and the smaller E175-E2 boasts the longest maintenance intervals in the single-aisle jet category, 10000 flight hours for basic checks and no calendar limit for typical E-Jet operations. This means an additional 15 days of aircraft utilisation over a period of ten years compared to current generation E-Jets.
Embraer E195-E2 on Take-off
Embraer's Sales Director for Africa Gad Wavomba welcomed representatives of all the major airlines in South Africa, as well as some from our neighbouring countries and invited them to experience the E195-E2 first-hand during a forty five minute demonstration flight around the North Western part of South Africa. SA Airlink were particularly interested in this versatile aircraft considering they are currently Embraer’s largest African customer.
Gad Wavomba
FireBlade Aviation
The large 31 inch economy seat were surprisingly comfortable with ample leg room, but what really made an impression was the greatly reduced noise levels in the cabin. Even on the take-off run the large Pratt n Whitney PW1900G were quiet enough to have a normal conversation and this seated aft of the wings.The coloured over-head lighting was also demonstrated not that it has too many practical uses.
From South Africa the E195-ES continued on to the Seychelles and planned to then visit Australia and New Zealand before making their way back to Brazil to conclude a world tour that took them to the USA, Europe and China as well as a visit to the Dubai Airshow.
