CEO and President of Embraer Commercial Aviation, Arjan Meier, presented in a virtual event the company’s plan to enter the realm of sustainable aviation.
The Brazilian manufacturer unveiled four concepts and a technology development philosophy that puts it at the forefront – along with Airbus – of the race for a zero-emission, alternative-fuel commercial product.
Meier said at the presentation that there are several startups looking to build that first model and thereby dominate the market, but he believes Embraer has an advantage: experience. «Building an airplane takes time, and it seems to me that the development times of that technology from scratch for these manufacturers, and the dates they plan to enter service, are simply not realistic».
In that regard, Meier said, «our timeline is brave but realistic,» and the gradual transition laid out by the Energy Family seems to accompany that vision: from 9-seat hybrid and 100% electric aircraft in 2030 to a 35- to 50-seat regional aircraft using hydrogen in 2040, arriving at an E2-or the aircraft that replaces the last generation of E-Jets at that time-flying on hydrogen in 2045, the company is betting on incorporating novel technology into proven technology…
