Brazilian-based aircraft maker Embraer is celebrating the 1000th jet of the ERJ 145 family. Last Friday, September 28, at Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co. Ltd. (HEAI), in Harbin, China, this regional jet family reached the historic milestone of 1000th aircraft produced in a little over ten years.
The ERJ 145 jet S/N 1000 will fly in the colors of Grand China Express, an airline of the HNA Group that ordered 50 aircraft of this model, as well as 50 EMBRAER 190 E-Jets.
From the delivery of the first airplane of the series to Continental Express (now Express Jet), in December 1996, to the present time, the ERJ 145 family has accumulated over 12 million flight hours and an average mission completion of more than 99.7%.
This feat, according to Embraer, makes the ERJ 145 Program one of the most successful in the aeronautics industry, worldwide.
The ERJ 145 family of jets, comprised of the ERJ 145 (50 seats), ERJ 135 (37 seats), ERJ 140 (44 seats), and ERJ 145 XR (an extended-range version of the original ERJ 145), offers airlines 98% commonality of parts and systems, as well as the same flight crew type rating, and is suited for high-frequency use, operating up to 2,500 hours per year.
In 2003, Embraer consolidated its presence in China by creating Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry (HEAI) – a joint venture with China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) – to manufacture aircraft from the ERJ 145 family of regional jets for the Chinese market.
On June 30, 2007, the order book for the ERJ 145 family of regional jets had logged 915 firm orders and 131 options, totaling 1,046 aircraft.
The ERJ 145 family is complemented by over 110 Legacy executive jets that fly in 20 countries, as well as the defense versions – AEW&C, P-99, and RS/AGS – for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operating in Brazil, Greece and Mexico.
