Embraer’s turboprop still has to tick a few boxes

The latest updates provided by Embraer on their turboprop are an indication that the program is progressing well and is getting even closer to a launch. This could well be next year, with first deliveries expected in 2027, in line with what the Brazilian airframer has said before. Still, there are many questions about the status and the timing of the new airplane. Let’s go through them step by step. Embraer’s turboprop still has to tick a few boxes.

What is the new turboprop all about?

Embraer has a rich history of turboprops, but it left the regional aircraft segment after the Brasilia came of age and jets were the thing to go for. Since 2017, the OEM has been thinking of a new turboprop and for a number of reasons. The Western market has been dominated by Bombardier/De Havilland Canada and ATR, but despite updates, their designs are getting outdated and offer a huge potential for replacement Embraer wants to go for.

Embraer thinks it can make a step-change with a clean sheet design, although it incorporates a fuselage with the same 2.74-meter cross-section as the E2-family. Initially, it talked about a 70-100 seat cabin, but in a presentation on August 13, Senior Vice President Engineering and Development Luis Carlos Affonso said the aircraft will be a 70-90 seater. President and CEO Commercial Aviation Arjan Meijer added on LinkedIn that the turboprop offers ten percent more space compared to current TPs, with costs per seat fifteen percent better while flying twenty percent faster.