Embraer Delays 170 Certification
WASHINGTON (Aviation Daily) - Software problems led Embraer to postpone certification of its new 70-seat Embraer 170, originally scheduled in June, the second significant delay for the program. Speaking on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show, Embraer CEO Mauricio Botelho said certification is now expected in November. Botelho told The DAILY that the case was resented to him only last week and that he immediately decided to push back certification efforts.
Honeywell makes the 170’s avionics software, but Embraer didn’t put the blame solely on the supplier. Embraer will use the extra time to include more features in the original certification that whould have been added later under previous plans. Launch customer Alitalia will be the only airline significantly affected by the delay, according to Botelho. The airline was due to get six aircraft this year, with initial deliveries planned in summer. US Airways was expected to take delivery of its first aircraft in November, and Botelho expects to keep that schedule.
Embraer cut its 2003 delivery forecast as a result of the software issues, delivering 110 aircraft instead of 132 this year, though shipments should rise from 136 to 160 in 2004. The manufacturer expects to increase its output further in 2005 but offered no details. Originally, Swiss International Air Lines was due to take delivery of its first Embraer 170 this summer, but financial troubles caused the carrier to delay acceptance by a year. Embraer recently won firm orders for 85 Embraer 170s from US Airways and 100 Embraer 190s from JetBlue Airways.
