Page 8 - Flight International (January 2020)

THIS WEEK
Details emerge of
Iran 737 shootdown
This Week P10

DEVELOPMENT MAX KINGSLEY-JONES DUBLIN
EC approval key to Embraer turboprop

Brazilian airframer says decision covering new airliner family is conditional on green light for joint venture with Boeing

mbraer is on course to decide went ahead with the turboprop it
Eon the launch of an all-new would provide an all-new com-
advanced turboprop airliner petitor to the ATR family. “There
within the next 12 months – but is today an effective monopoly
warns that the decision hinges with ATR, which of course is 50%
on the approval of its joint ven- owned by Airbus,” he says.
ture with Boeing. “The market wants a competi-
The Brazilian manufacturer is tive counterpoint to the ATR, and
two years into a three-year study if we did make the move I expect
covering the creation of a family ATR would respond – whether
of large turboprops similar in size it’s with either an improved ATR
to the ATR 72, Embraer Commer- or a clean-sheet design. And the
cial Aviation chief executive John beneficiaries of that are the opera-
Slattery told Flight International BillyPix tors… and the environment.”
during aviation finance week in Slattery says that Embraer is
Dublin on 20 January. John Slattery says proposed aircraft would compete with ATR types studying a two-aircraft family
But he adds that it is crucial and is in dialogue with “three”
that the ongoing probe by the all the information it had request- the required information, and the engine manufacturers about a
European Commission into the ed from the two OEMs. revised target date for the powerplant. “We are now in that
proposed tie-up with Boeing is “In the case of Brazil, it was go-ahead is 30 April. This would bridge phase moving from RFI
cleared: “In essence – no JV, no signalled before Christmas that clear the path to a decision on [request for information] to RFP
TP [turboprop],” he says. the regulatory authority was pre- the turboprop. [request for proposals] with the
The joint venture, which will disposed to an approval early in “I’m hopeful that by the end of manufacturers, with the inten-
see Boeing take a majority stake in the new year,” says Slattery. this year we would be able to tion of selecting one.”
Embraer’s commercial aviation “We’re hopeful that will happen, make a definitive position on the Slattery adds that wind-tunnel
division, has been signed off by all and expect that to happen with turboprop,” he says. “However, testing will begin this year as the
anti-trust authorities other than in no conditionality associated with neither I nor my board will have study enters the final phase. He
Brazil and the EU. The deal had it, which is exactly the form of appetite to move forward with adds that if the decision to launch
been expected to be cleared to go approval from every jurisdiction the turboprop unless the joint the turboprop is made on its cur-
ahead last year, but the Commis- we have received so far.” venture has materialised.” rent planned schedule, the target
sion “stopped the clock” on its in- Slattery says that the EU clock Slattery points out that follow- in-service date would be “quarter
vestigation as it had not received has “restarted” now that it has all ing approval of the JV, if Embraer four 2025, quarter one 2026”. ■

DEBUT GARRETT REIM LOS ANGELES
US Navy’s ‘lifeline’ moves forward as CMV-22B flies

he US Navy's (USN’s) first say they plan to deliver the tiltro- the navy's Grumman C-2A Grey- 22B will be a lifeline for our ser-
TBell Boeing CMV-22B Osprey tor to the US Naval Air Systems hound twin-turboprops for mis- vicemen and women out at sea,”
has made its initial flight at Bell’s Command’s Air Test and Evalua- sions including transporting per- says Kristin Houston, director of
Amarillo site in Texas. tion Squadron 21 early this year sonnel, mail, supplies and the Bell Boeing V-22 programme.
Further details have not been to support developmental trials. high-priority cargo from land to Key differences over the
disclosed, but the manufacturers The new variant will replace aircraft carriers at sea. The type USMC-operated MV-22 incude a
may also be used to move cargo to larger fuel tank and improved
expeditionary bases. fuel dump capability.
Another role for the carrier on- The service plans to buy 44 ex-
board delivery asset will involve amples, with the CMV-22B due to
ferrying Pratt & Whitney F135 be deployed and achieve initial
engines for the Lockheed Martin operational capability next year.
F-35 to and from USN aircraft Full operational capability is ex-
carriers and the US Marine pected in 2022, the navy says.
Bell Boeing Corps’ (USMC's) amphibious as- the USN currently operates 34
Cirium fleets data shows that
sault ships.
C-2 transports, aged between 30
“With the ability to travel up to
Ospreys will transport high-priority cargo to aircraft carriers at sea 1,150nm [2,130km], the CMV- and 35 years. ■
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