In its bid to find potential manufacturing partners for its proposed turboprop aircraft, Embraer says it is in active discussion with India and other regions globally. The Brazilian plane maker wants to launch the project soon and would ideally like to see the jet enter into service later this decade.
India in consideration
Embraer is currently searching for a manufacturing partner for its proposed new-generation turboprop, and talks with India are reportedly progressing well. Discussions about the possibility of India featuring in Embraer’s larger plan surfaced earlier this year, and the latest reports suggest that the country is still very much in the running.
Photo: Embraer
Business Standard quotes the aircraft manufacturer as saying,
“We are in discussions with potential partners in India and globally on a selection of partnering options for the next generation turboprop aircraft — including manufacturing. These discussions are ongoing and progressing well.”
It added that the aircraft is still in the development phase, and a decision to launch the project has not been made.
The new turboprop
Embraer predicts the world will need around 11,000 new aircraft with up to 150-seats over the next 20 years. The replacement of aging aircraft will account for 57% of all new deliveries, while 43% will be used to grow markets.
The plane maker feels that there will be a trend toward smaller aircraft, driven by an increasing need for flexibility, connectivity, and efficiency. And this is where its new generation turboprop (TPNG) comes into the picture.
Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO Arjan Meijer said the new aircraft “is not a turboprop as we know it.” It is more of an E-Jet E-2 aircraft with a different form of propulsion rather than an improved turboprop. The TPNG will have the same cabin experience as on the E2, and moving the engines to the rear will mean a much quieter cabin.
Embraer is looking to launch the project sometime in the middle of next year so that the plane could enter service around 2028.
Scope in India
These reports come hot on the heels of the inauguration of the Tata-Airbus C-295 aircraft manufacturing facility in the Indian state of Gujarat on October 30th. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that India could soon be manufacturing large passenger aircraft, suggesting either home-grown designs from scratch or establishing assembly lines for established players like Boeing and Airbus.
India is gradually building its portfolio in aerospace technology and manufacturing. There have been some advancements over the years, with manufacturing giants partnering with Indian companies for their products.
State-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has also taken significant steps, including manufacturing the Hindustan-228, the Indian version of the Dornier-228, and various Indian companies now feature in the global supply chain ecosystem for Airbus and Boeing.
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Source: Business Standard
Source: simpleflying.com
