Embraer ERJ 145 family

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ERJ 145 family
ERJ 135/ERJ 140/ERJ 145
RAEerj145.jpg
An ERJ-145 of Air France Régional
Role Twin-engine Regional airliner
National origin Brazil
Manufacturer Embraer
First flight August 11, 1995
Introduction April 6, 1997
Status In Service
Primary users ExpressJet Airlines
Envoy Air
Trans States Airlines
Aeroméxico Connect
Produced 1989-present
Number built 890 as of January 2012[1]
Developed from Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
Variants R-99 and P-99
Embraer Legacy 600

The Embraer ERJ 145 family [lower-alpha 1] is a series of twin-engine regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company. Family members include the ERJ 135 (37 passengers), ERJ 140 (44 passengers), and ERJ 145 (50 passengers), 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 Bombardier CRJ regional jets.

Development

The ERJ-145 was designed for a perceived new market for regional jet aircraft, where the increased speed, comfort and passenger appeal would outweigh the inherent fuel economy of the turboprop aircraft which were in service and in development.[2] In order to reduce the development cost, it used the EMB120 nose and the same fuselage cross-section.[2]

Early design

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)
  • Rear Fuselage-mounted engines
  • Range of 2500 km (1550 miles).
  • 75% parts commonality with the EMB 120.

Interim design

Flight deck of an ERJ 135
Cabin of an ERJ 145 (Komiaviatrans)
Embraer ERJ 145 of BMI
Winglet detail on an ERJ 145XR

By 1990, Embraer engineers found that results from wind-tunnel testing were less than satisfactory, and began considering a significantly different design from the EMB 120. The proposed modified design included a slightly (22.3°) swept wing with winglets, as well as engines mounted in underwing nacelles. This second design showed markedly better aerodynamic performance, but the combination of swept wings and wing-mounted engines required an unusually high (and therefore heavy) undercarriage.[3]

Production design

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 which was a similar configuration used for the Embraer/FMA CBA 123 Vector design which never reached production. The key features of the production design included:

The first design was intended to retain as much commonality as possible with the EMB 120. However, the aircraft has sold well thus overcoming the initial setbacks. Embraer delivered 892 units of all variants through 2006, and predicted that another 102 units would be delivered in the 2007-2016 time period.[4]

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 derated engine and an increased range. At launch, Embraer estimated the cost of an ERJ 140 to be approximately US$15.2 million. The estimated cost of development of the ERJ 140 was US$45 million. The ERJ 135, with a service entry date of 1999, has 95% parts commonality with the ERJ 145, but is 11.7 feet (3.6 m) shorter.

The ERJ 145 seats 50 passengers, 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 some major United States airlines, which have an agreement with the pilots' union to limit the number of 50-seat aircraft that can be flown by their affiliates.

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

Design

Engine

The EMB-145 Family of aircraft generally come equipped with two Rolls-Royce AE 3007 series turbofan engines. The engines have a bypass ratio of 5:1. The engines are controlled by two FADECs (Full Authority Digital Engine Controls). The FADECs control virtually all aspects of the engine and send engine data to be displayed on the EICAS for the pilot.

Avionics

The Embraer ERJ 145 Family typically comes equipped with the Honeywell Primus 1000 Avionics suite. The suite normally consists of five CRT display units (DUs) or screens. From left to right, the system consists of a Primary Flight Display (PFD), Multi-Function Display (MFD), Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS), Multi-Function Display (MFD) (Co-pilot) and Primary Flight Display (PFD) (Co-pilot). The DUs are normally CRTs but can be upgraded to lighter LCD displays. These upgraded DUs also have added functionality.

Operations

The first flight of the ERJ 145 occurred on August 11, 1995, with the first delivery in December 1996 to ExpressJet Airlines (then the regional division of Continental Airlines flying as Continental Express). ExpressJet is the largest operator of the ERJ 145, with 270 of the nearly-1,000 ERJ 145s in service. The second largest operator is American Eagle, with 206 ERJ 145 aircraft. Trans States operates 47 ERJ 145s through alliances with United Express and American Eagle Airlines. Chautauqua Airlines also operates 38 ERJ 145s through an alliance with Delta Connection.

NovoAir Embraer ERJ 145 preparing to take off from NovoAir's hub, Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh.

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.

The ERJ 140 was introduced in September 1999, first flew on June 27, 2000 and entered commercial service in July 2001. Envoy Air, the regional jet subsidiary of American Airlines flying as American Eagle, operates the majority of the ERJ 140s built, including the first to be delivered (N800AE).

As of early 2005, 74 ERJ 140s had been delivered.

This version is marketed as ERJ 140, but on the company's internal documents and on Federal Aviation Administration certification, the version is designated EMB 135KL.

Variants

Civilian models

City Airline Embraer ERJ 135.
Embraer ERJ 145 of the Brazilian Federal Police.
Embraer ERJ-145LU; Campeche, Mexico
  • 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 (5,187 kg) and upgraded engines.
  • ERJ 145STD - The baseline original, seating for a total of 50 passengers.
  • ERJ 145EU - Model optimized for the European market. Same fuel capacity as 145STD (4,174 kg) but an increased MTOW[5] 19,990 kg
  • ERJ 145ER - Extended Range, although this is the Baseline 145 model.
  • ERJ 145EP - Same fuel capacity as 145ER (4,174 kg) but an increased MTOW 20,990 kg.
  • ERJ 145LR - Long Range - increased fuel capacity (5,187 kg) and upgraded engines.
  • ERJ 145LU - Same fuel capacity as 145LR (5,187 kg) but an increased MTOW 21,990 kg.
  • ERJ 145MK - Same fuel capacity (4,174 kg), landing weight (MLW) and MTOW as in the 145STD, but a changed MZFW[6] (17,700 kg).
  • ERJ 145XR - Extra-long Range (numerous aerodynamic improvements, including winglets, strakes, etc. for lower cruise-configuration drag; 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 up-rated engines.
  • Legacy 600 (EMB 135BJ) - Business jet variant based on the ERJ 135.
  • Legacy 650 (EMB 135BJ) - Business jet variant based on the ERJ 135.

The physical engines are the same (Rolls-Royce AE 3007), however, the FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine/Electronic Control) logic is what differs between the various models in regards to total thrust capability.

The extended range version, the ERJ 145ER, has Rolls Royce AE 3007A engines rated at 31.3 kN(7,036 lb) thrust, 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 mechanical components.

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 33.1 kN (7,440 lb) thrust 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. February 2011 Embraer presented its new EMB-145 AEW&C for India.

Luxair Embraer ERJ 135LR

Despite the multiple variants, pilots need only one type rating to fly any variant of the ERJ aircraft. Companies like American Eagle and 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

Operators

Civilian operators

In October 2015 a total of 927 ERJ 135/140/145 remain in service. [7][8]

Current major civilian operators include :

Africa World Airlines ERJ-145LR at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
NovoAir Embraer ERJ 145 landing at hub Shahjalal International Airport in 2014..
Rotana Jet Embraer 145
bmi ERJ 145EP at Bristol Filton Airport.

Some 25 other airlines also operate the aircraft in smaller numbers.

Military operators

Belgian Air Force ERJ 135LR in 2010.
 Angola
 Belgium
  • Belgian Air Component (operates two ERJ 135 and two ERJ 145 since 2001 in passenger transport and VIP roles)
 Brazil
 Colombia
 Ecuador
 Greece
 India
 Mexico
 Panama
 Thailand

Notable accidents

The ERJ 145 family of aircraft has no reported crashes or fatalities due to mechanical malfunction in over 15 million hours (as of June 2009) of flight time for the fleet.[11]

  • On February 11, 1998 a Continental Express, now United Express, ERJ 145ER tail number N14931 crashed in Beaumont, Texas on takeoff during a training flight. NTSB reports that after the incorrect application of rudder during a V1 cut maneuver, the left wing stalled. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. [2]
  • On December 28, 1998, a Rio-Sul flight crew, approaching Curitiba, Brazil's Afonso Pena Airport, descended beyond the normal rates and landed at a speed significantly higher than the normal landing speed. The aircraft tail section cracked and was dragged along the runway.[12] The aircraft involved, an ERJ 145ER registered as PT-SPE, was damaged beyond economical repair.
  • On 7 December 2009, an Embraer ERJ 135 operated by South African Airlink (registration:ZS-SJW) on a scheduled flight SA-8625 from Cape Town, overshot the runway when trying to land in wet weather at George Airport; no fatalities were reported. It was determined that the aircraft touched down in the area of the fourth landing marker. According to the air traffic controller (ATC) on duty at the time, the landing appeared normal, however the aircraft did not vacate the runway but instead veered to the right and slid past the ILS localizer. The aircraft collided with eleven approach lights and burst through the aerodrome's perimeter fence; it came to rest in a nose-down attitude on a public road. A preliminary investigation showed that the landing gear tyres did display some evidence of aquaplaning. The plane was damaged beyond economical repair.
  • On August 25, 2010, an ERJ 145 operated by Passaredo, crash-landed on approach to Vitória da Conquista. The plane touched-down short of the runway and the crew lost control, resulting in the aircraft sustaining severe damage before coming to a stop away from the runway. Two of the 27 people on board were injured. The airline said the plane was unable to lower landing gear, although observers said the landing gear was lowered while the aircraft was landing.[15]

Specifications

Line drawings of ERJ 135 & 145
Variant ERJ135 ER[16][17] ERJ135 LR[16][17] ERJ140 ER[18][19] ERJ140 LR[18][19] ERJ145 LR[20][21] ERJ145 XR[22][23]
Crew 3 (2 pilots + flight attendant)
Seating capacity 37 44 50
Length
Wing span
Height		 26.33 m (86 ft 5 in)
20.04 m (65 ft 9 in)
6.76 m (22 ft 2 in)		 28.45 m (93 ft 4 in)
20.04 m (65 ft 9 in)
6.76 m (22 ft 2 in)		 29.87 m (98 ft 0 in)
20.04 m (65 ft 9 in)
6.76 m (22 ft 2 in)
Engines (2x) Rolls-Royce AE 3007-A1 (7800 lb thrust) or Rolls-Royce AE 3007-A1P (8300 lb thrust) Rolls-Royce AE 3007-A1E (8700 lb thrust)
Max Zero Fuel Weight (MZFW) 15,600 kg (34,392 lb) 16,000 kg (35,273 lb) 17,100 kg (37,699 lb) 17,900 kg (39,462 lb) 18,500 kg (40,785 lb)
Max payload weight 4,198 kg (9,255 lb) 4,499 kg (9,918 lb) 5,284 kg (11,649 lb) 5,292 kg (11,666 lb) 5,786 kg (12,755 lb) 5,909 kg (13,027 lb)
Max Take Off Weight 19,000 kg (41,887 lb) 20,000 kg (44,092 lb) 20,100 kg (44,312 lb) 21,100 kg (46,517 lb) 22,000 kg (48,501 lb) 24,100 kg (53,131 lb)
Maximum range 2,409 km (1,300 nmi) 3,243 km (1,750 nmi) 2,317 km (1,250 nmi) 3,058 km (1,650 nmi) 2,873 km (1,550 nmi) 3,704 km (2,000 nmi)
Maximum cruising speed Mach 0.78, 447 kts, 515 mph, 828 km/h Mach 0.80, 470 kts, 530 mph, 851 km/h
Service ceiling 11,278 m (37,000 ft)

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ↑ ERJ or Embraer Regional Jet is a marketing name the type is officially the Embraer EMB-135 and EMB-145
  1. ↑ 001-Embraer Deliveries 4Q11-Ins-VPF-I-12. Retrieved January 11th, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Resende, O.C. The evolution of the aerodynamic design tools and transport aircraft wings at Embraer, J. Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. & Eng. vol.26 no.4 Rio de Janeiro Oct./Dec. 2004 Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  3. ↑ ERJ 145 information at Airliners.net. Retrieved September 3, 2009.
  4. ↑ Aviation Week & Space Technology, 29 October 2007 issue, p. 66
  5. ↑ MTOW - Maximum TakeOff Weight
  6. ↑ MZFW - Maximum Zero Fuel Weight
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Embraer.com.br
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Embraer Press Release Embraer sign contracts with the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy
  11. ↑ Embraer.com
  12. ↑ Flight recorder video of Rio-Sul incident YouTube. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 E135 Weight Specifications
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 E135 Performance Specifications
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 E140 Weight Specifications
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 E140 Performance Specifications
  20. ↑ E145 LR Weight Specifications
  21. ↑ E145 LR Performance Specifications
  22. ↑ E145 XR Weight Specifications
  23. ↑ E145 XR Performance Specifications
Bibliography

External links

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