Brazilian Plane maker Embraer has secured 120-minute extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS – Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards) certification for its E190-E2 and E195-E2 model planes.
The certification has been done by the Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil), the FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration), and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency). In a press release, the company said,
Embraer has secured 120 minute extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) approval for the E190-E2 and E195-E2 from the Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil), FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency).
This capability paves the way for E2 operators to fly direct non-limiting routes over water and other remote areas, saving both time and fuel.
An extended Range Twin Operations approval (ETOPS) permits twin-engined aeroplanes to operate over a route that contains a point further than one hour flying time at the approved one-engine inoperative cruise speed. This is applicable to flights under standard conditions in still air from an adequate aerodrome.
ETOPS – Extended-range Twin-engine Operations Performance Standards , Ilustration Credit : Vladsinger
Among the prerequisite of the ETOPS certification is that the fleet of aircraft in operation to reach cumulative flying hour milestones, which have now been met.
The certification for the E2 has been granted later than expected due to the global pandemic – which cut down operations of the type and slowed down the accumulation of flying hours required to gain this certificate. The press release further read,
The granting of ETOPS-120 capability is testimony to the aircraft’s design and to the maturity of the systems; ETOPS certification requires the fleet of aircraft in operation to reach cumulative flying hour milestones.
ETOPS certification for the E2 comes later than expected due to the global pandemic which significantly reduced aircraft operations, slowing down the accumulation of flying hours required.
Arjan Meijer, President and CEO Embraer Commercial Aviation, said,
“ETOPS is an important additional capability for the E2, and a key enabler for more sales, especially in Asia Pacific. Airlines flying routes with up to 120 minute diversion time will be able to use straighter, quicker and more fuel efficient routes, and have access to more diversion airports. ETOPS capability is a further optimisation of the E2, already the most fuel efficient aircraft in its segment.”
