Brazilian jet manufacturer Embraer has secured a so-called provisional certification from the FAA for the Embraer 170, allowing launch customer US Airways to begin proving runs with the airplane before it wins full FAA certification, now scheduled for next month. The announcement came just weeks after Brazil’s CTA granted similar certification for the 70-seat jet. Embraer announced in late October that the 170 would gain certification in early November, but authorities delayed the service introduction of the new class of jet for the fourth time, citing insufficient documentation for the airplane’s Honeywell fly-by-wire software.
The delays have complicated both Alitalia’s and US Airway’s plans to expand regional services and reduced Embraer’s revenue projection for 2003. The company also once again adjusted its delivery forecast downward, to a total of 102 aircraft for the year.
Although the provisional certification finally clears US Airways to begin training its crews, at press time delivery dates remained undecided, calling into question US Airways’ plans to launch operations at its new division in February. US Airways holds orders for a total of 85 Embraer 170s, with options to acquire an additional 50. Alitalia, meanwhile, must wait for full JAA approval because the European authority does not issue provisional certificates.
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