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Embraer ERJ 135

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Template:Infobox Aircraft

File:ERJ 145 Cockpit.jpg
Embraer ERJ cockpit

The Embraer ERJ 135 regional jet is produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company and is part of the ERJ 145 family. Family members include the ERJ 140, ERJ 145, and Legacy, with the ERJ 145 being the largest of the group. The series are powered by two Rolls-Royce AE3007 turbofan engines. Primary competition comes from the Canadair Regional Jet.

History

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)
  • Wing-mounted engines
  • Range of 2500 km
  • 75% parts commonality with the EMB 120.

Interim design

By 1990, Embraer engineers found that the result of wind-tunnel testing was safisfactory, and began considering a significantly different design from the EMB 120. A modified design was proposed which included:

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

Production design

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

Derivatives

The ERJ 135 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. The ERJ 135 has 95% parts commonality with the ERJ 145, but is 11.7 feet (3.6 m) shorter.

The ERJ 135 seats 37 passengers, while the ERJ 140 seats 44, and the ERJ 145 seats 50.

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 and United Express. By some accounts, the ERJ 145 has a cost of ownership of about $2,500,000 per year.

Models

Airline models

  • ERJ 135 ER - 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 135 LR - Long Range (increased fuel capacity and upgraded engines).

Business models

  • Legacy - Business jet variant is special variant modeled after an ERJ135. Main Article: Embraer Legacy

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

NOTE: 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.

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.

Despite the multiple variants, a single type rating for the ERJ135/140/145 will allow pilots to fly this fleet. Companies like ExpressJet Airlines utilise this benefit with their mix-fleet of ERJ135ER/LR and ERJ145ER/LR/XR. Shared type ratings of aircraft allow companies to save on expenisive plot training, making the Embraer fleet even more attractive to prospective buyers. Other companies, such as Airbus Industires, have made this more common than before; Boeing, on the other hand, has not been as successful with this concept.


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

NOTE: 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.

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.

Despite the multiple variants, a single type rating for the ERJ135/140/145 will allow pilots to fly this fleet. Companies like ExpressJet Airlines utilise this benefit with their mix-fleet of ERJ135ER/LR and ERJ145ER/LR/XR. Shared type ratings of aircraft allow companies to save on expenisive plot training, making the Embraer fleet even more attractive to prospective buyers. Other companies, such as Airbus Industires, have made this more common than before; Boeing, on the other hand, has not been as successful with this concept.

Civilian operators

As of 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.[1]

Accident history

The ERJ 145 family of aircraft has an outstanding service record with 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 bent and was dragged along the runway. 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 145's 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.[1] 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.[2].

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. [3]

Specifications

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3 (pilot, co-pilot, flight attendant)
  • Capacity: 37 passengers
  • Length: 26.33 m (86 ft 5 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:
    • ERJ 140: 11,740 kg (25,88102 lb)
    • ERJ 145: 11,667 kg (25,722 lb)
  • Loaded:
    • ERJ 140: 17,100 kg (37,700 lb)
  • Maximum take-off weight:
    • ERJ 135 ER: 19,000 kg (41,888 lb)
    • ERJ 135 LR: 20,000 kg (44,092 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce AE 3007A turbofans, 33.0 kN (7,420 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum operating speed: Mach 0.78 (834 km/h - 518 mph)
  • Range:
    • ERJ 135 ER:
    • ERJ 135 LR: 1,750 nm (3,243 km)
  • 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)
  • Thrust-to-weight: 0.58:1

References

  1. ^ Flight International, 3-9 October 2006

See also

Related development:

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: EMB 110 - EMB 120 - EMB 121 - ERJ 135 - ERJ 140 - ERJ 145 - 170 - 175 - 190 - 195


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