Embraer is promising a “mature and robust” aircraft at entry into service and has established its own carrier, Pioneer Airlines, to ensure it happens. Airliner World’s James Ronayne reports.
Pioneer Airlines was conceived to simulate real customer operations with Embraer, conducting a test campaign that follows the same day-to-day rhythm as a functioning airline.
The manufacturer established scenarios, in the corner of the flight envelope, to test beyond the certification requirement that would make the aircraft more mature. It increased the flight test campaign within the schedule, dedicating between 400 and 500 hours to Pioneer Airlines.
“You don’t need to do an engine start using another aircraft as a pneumatic source to prove that aircraft is safe to fly. But sometimes this is a reality for our customers,” explained Henrique Heidemann, design for customer experience manager at Embraer, highlighting the difference between the certification process and the maturity tests.
Pioneer Airlines is based at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility in São Paulo, where the company’s E2 test fleet is stationed. The aircraft were dispatched to airports all over Brazil as part of the maturity campaign and even as far afield as Alaska.
