Embraer is expected to announce it is delaying the go-ahead of its planned next generation turboprop (NGTP) 70-90 seat airliner project, citing unfavorable technical, economic and market conditions.
The move, if confirmed, marks an unexpected U-turn for the Brazilian manufacturer which, until recently, was showing signs of firming up the project schedule. Embraer said earlier this year it expected to select an engine supplier by the end of 2022 and recently issued requests for proposals to industry for major systems and components.
Embraer has yet to respond to Aviation Week’s request for comment.
News of the delay emerges just days after Embraer said it will focus sustainable aircraft studies on hybrid-electric and hydrogen fuel cell 19- and 30-seat regional airliners as part of its on-going Energia program. However, the various Energia concepts are targeted at potential entry-into-service in the 2030-2035 timeframe, rather than the 2028-2029 period targeted for the initial NGTP models.
Embraer previously aimed to launch the new turboprop in 2023—possibly at the Paris Air Show next June—pending engine selection, finalization of the business plan, and securing funding. Earlier this summer Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto said the company was exploring “alternatives” for funding the project. Speaking in early August, he also said “we expect to decide about the engine selection in the second half of the year, and we expect to approve the business case beginning of next year.”
The company also appeared to be attracting traction in the market for the advanced turboprop and at this year’s Farnborough Airshow revealed it had letters of intent for 250 aircraft.
The chief delay is believed to concern the engine selection for which Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce were both competing—General Electric having elected not to bid around mid-year. No details have emerged of the proposed powerplants, though Pratt was thought to be leveraging technology developed for the recently announced PW127XT turboprop on the ATR 42 and 72. Rolls-Royce was understood to be proposing an all-new engine based on a configuration from its Advance 1 core development work in Indianapolis.
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