Brazilian plane maker Embraer is in the process of selecting an engine maker to power its proposed passenger turboprop aircraft and expects to make a decision by the end of this year, its commercial aviation head said.
The company is in advanced talks with conventional engine manufacturers Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and GE, Arjan Meijer, chief executive of Embraer’s commercial aircraft unit, said in an interview.
The proposed turboprop will include 70-seater and 90-seater options and will be capable of running entirely on sustainable aviation fuel.
Embraer plans to launch the turboprop programme in the beginning-to-middle of 2023, with entry into service scheduled by early 2028.
“There's a lot of interest from the market, we believe there's a market size in the next 20 years of 2,260 turboprops,” Mr Meijer told The National.
“[It will be] an E2 jet-like experience for the customer with much lower noise levels and of course, a much better economic and sustainable footprint.”
The engine selection decision will hinge on factors including fuel burn, maintenance cost and reliability.
“An engine is a very big decision for an aircraft type, it's a big cost driver for the airline and it's a very important decision we need to make, so we're going to take the time that we need,” Mr Meijer said.
Comparing the fuel efficiency of the new turboprop to existing technologies in an industry dominated by ATR, a joint venture between Airbus and Italy's Leonardo, Mr Meijer said the 90-seater will have up to 15 per cent lower fuel burn per seat.
The 50-seater will offer a 25 per cent fuel-burn reduction on short-range flights compared to jet operations.
“One of the trends post-Covid is definitely sustainability … As an industry we need to take the improvements that we can make today and if you look at an E-jet like-for-like replacement, you're talking about roughly 20 per cent fuel burn that you'll never have to offset with hydrogen or sustainable aviation fuel, it's just a straightforward improvement,” he said, noting that it takes time to develop aircraft technologies.
The tail-mounted engines will help with noise reduction in the cabin and take into account future technology changes, he said.
The executive said he cannot disclose the cost estimate for the new turboprop programme because it is too early but that Embraer is in “active discussions” with several industrial and financial partners globally for development.
Airlines in the US have indicated interest in the proposed 70-seater version of the new jet as a potential replacement for their 50-seaters with bigger cabins, he said.
There is also a “huge opportunity” for the turboprop in Asia, where Embraer already has many E-jets flying, he added.
The company has had discussions with Middle East airlines about the new turboprop, Martyn Holmes, chief commercial officer of Embraer's commercial aviation division, said in the same interview.
“No one is immune from building a sustainable future, no one is immune from building a sustainable business and so we think the turboprop is part of that dynamic. The conversations we've had in the region have been posited towards that,” he said.
“Do I think the turboprop is going to sell more in the Middle East than in Asia-Pacific? No.”
Embraer's market outlook forecasts demand for 2,260 turboprop deliveries globally in the next 20 years, mostly focused in Asia Pacific (39.8 per cent), Europe (19 per cent) and North America (19 per cent). The Middle East has a 1.8 per cent share of these projected turboprop deliveries.
The plane maker is also in talks with potential customers in the Middle East and other regions for its E2 range of models to handle feeder traffic.
“There are active discussions and there is real serious interest,” Mr Meijer said.
“No one is immune from the developments we've seen in the last two years with Covid, the situation in Russia, the economic uncertainties, and we believe airlines will be a little bit more cautious going forward. One way to do that is fly aircraft that have less risk because you can fill it quicker and easier and you still get the benefit of the low cost per seat.”
Embraer expects to deliver between 60 and 70 E-jets this year, up from less than 50 in 2020 and 2021, but below the 92 to 100 jets before the pandemic, he said.
The company's total full-year revenue guidance is unchanged with a target of between $4.5 billion to $5bn.
Rising inflation rates and higher oil prices are putting a strain on the aviation industry but regional jet makers could benefit from higher demand for smaller aircraft with improved fuel efficiency, Mr Meijer said.
“For our segment, it could be positive, but of course for the overall industry, having first Covid, then Russia-Ukraine situation and all kinds of other challenges, it's going to be tough,” he said.
Embraer — which has a long-standing agreement with Russia's VSMPO-Avisma, the world's largest titanium producer — has sufficient titanium supplies until the end of 2023 but is keeping a “very close watch” on the situation and is seeking alternatives from other suppliers globally, Mr Meijer said.
In the air cargo market, Embraer has identified a “clear gap” between existing turboprop freighters and the bigger narrow-body freighters, he said.
The plane maker is projecting demand for 700 freighters in the next 20 years in its segment of 15 to 20 tonnes.
In March, it launched the E190F and E195F passenger-to-freight Conversions to fill the gap between turboprop and narrowbody freighters.
The first converted freighters will roll off the conversion line in 2024.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Bib%20Gourmand%20restaurants
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Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group C
Liverpool v Napoli, midnight
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
RESULTS
2.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: SS Jalmod, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
2.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner: Ghallieah, Sebastien Martino, Jean-Claude Pecout
3.15pm: Al Marwan Group Holding – Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Inthar, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi
3.45pm: Al Ain Stud Emirates Breeders Trophy – Conditions (PA) Dh50,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: MH Rahal, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne
4.25pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: JAP Aneed, Ray Dawson, Irfan Ellahi
4.45pm: Sharjah Equine Hospital – Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Edaraat, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
