Embraer partners with Fokker on E-Jets MRO: Embraer has chosen Netherlands-based Fokker Services to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, covering a series of engine line replaceable units (LRUs) enrolled in Embraer’s Pool Programme, supporting Embraer’s first-generation E-Jets aircraft, including the E170, E175, E190 and E195. The multi-year agreement includes more than 60-part numbers of engine LRUs. “We are glad to strengthen our relationship with Fokker Services. At Embraer, we are always looking for ways to improve the Pool Program, in order to benefit our customers, and Fokker Services, with its expertise and excellence in supporting fleets worldwide, have presented the most comprehensive and appealing proposition to support the E-Jets fleet. We are convinced that is the best choice to improve our services even more,” said Johann Bordais, president and CEO, Embraer Services & Support. The engine LRUs will be repaired in-house at Fokker Services’ repair facilities. To ensure reliability of these critical components, the team will utilise state-of-the-art equipment, such as twin wire electric arc spray and an eddy current dynamometer test stand. Fokker Services will now provide its specialist knowledge to support these CF34 engine LRUs based on existing knowledge and experience with CFM56 and CFM LEAP LRUs. Fokker Services combines this with more than 30 years of experience in managing integrated programs, and drives continuous improvement by expanding its in-house repair capability portfolio.
Collaboration led by Eve publishes CONOPS: Eve UAM, an Embraer company, published the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for the future Urban Air Mobility (UAM) market in Rio de Janeiro. The document is a first for Brazil and brings together data and analyses that cover the perspective, points of attention and operational needs of eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) vehicles, passenger journey, and services and support. The CONOPS was developed through unprecedented cooperation with eleven strategic partners and government entities, including ANAC (Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil), DECEA (Department of Airspace Control), EDP Brasil, Helisul Aviação, Skyports, Flapper, RIOgaleão, Universal Aviation, ABAG (Brazilian General Aviation Association), in addition to Beacon, a platform that connects the ecosystem of aircraft maintenance services, and Atech, a company specialising in the control and management of air traffic (civil and military), both from the Embraer Group. The design of the CONOPS included studies on aspects that impact the UAM ecosystem, discussion groups involving the main pillars for its development, and a period of flight operations performed in November 2021 between Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood and RIOgaleão International Airport that simulated the UAM ecosystem with a helicopter. The community was also able to participate in this simulation by purchasing affordable tickets on one of the six daily flights conducted over the 30-day simulation period. The data and information collected from this simulation will contribute to defining the characteristics and needs for the development of urban air mobility not only in Rio de Janeiro but also in other places, creating a UAM blueprint for any city.
Embraer and Eve evaluate autonomous flight over Rio de Janeiro: Embraer concluded a series of experimental flights in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, focused on evaluating new autonomous system technologies in real flight conditions. The goal is to enable safe autonomous operation in complex urban environments. The aerial data collection and real-time evaluation of these technologies in urban scenarios used regular piloted helicopters as part of the Embraer Autonomous Systems project (Project EASy), which uses agile testing process for the development of best-in-class solutions that will enable the autonomous aviation of the future. Embraer worked with Eve UAM and in direct collaboration with partners Daedalean, Iris Automation and Near Earth Autonomy for seven days. During this time, the companies explored nominal and edge-case scenarios for take-off, climb, cruise, approach and landing flight phases. The helicopters from Helisul Aviação, an Eve partner for UAM development in Brazil, were controlled by professional pilots at all times while systems captured data and performed real-time calculations. “This project allowed us to evaluate technologies in real-time and also collect lots of data that will later be used in simulations,” said Julio Bolzani, Head of Autonomous Systems at Embraer. “It is important to note that we are not going straight to fully autonomous operations. As Eve begins operations, pilots will be on board and will also benefit from the application of these technologies through a safer and simplified vehicle operation until we reach a fully certified autonomous flight system for Urban Air Mobility.” This experimental process is also connected to the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) coordinated by Eve since 2021, in cooperation with strategic partners and government entities to convert this acquired knowledge into working data and analysis framework to guide all operational aspects of the future of Urban Air Mobility.
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