Embraer started fabricating parts for its new E190-E2 on Friday, when it cut metal on the first prototype’s wing stub forward pressure bulkhead at its Évora plant in Portugal.
“The production of this first part, on schedule, is an important milestone in all aviation programs, marking the transition from the project stage to beginning the manufacturing phase of the airplanes,” said Embraer Commercial Aviation CEO Paulo Cesar Silva. “There is still a long road ahead, until it actually enters service, but we harbor no doubts as to whether we will deliver to the market the most efficient, modern and robust aircraft in this segment, as well as a very comfortable cabin for passengers.”
Embraer makes the pressure bulkhead out of aviation aluminum at one of the high-speed milling centers housed in the Embraer metallic structures plant in. Plans call for the part to go to Brazil to start the first aircraft assembly.
Embraer chose Évora to install the Embraer Composites and Embraer Metallics plants in 2008, and inaugurated them in September 2012. The final assembly of the E2 jets and the delivery process to customers will take place at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil, in the same facilities now used to produce the current generation of E-Jets.
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