Honeywell has signed a new agreement with Embraer to certify changes in the avionics system of its first-generation E-Jets. Under the agreement, Honeywell will configure and certify the new system with the ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Aviation Safety Agency, the corresponding authorities in the United States and the European Union, respectively.
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With the launch of Embraer’s new cargo version of the E-Jets, Honeywell will have to adapt and modify the avionics system to support the new aircraft’s cargo operation. «The aircraft’s flight deck system is already from Honeywell, but we will have to reconfigure it to fly cargo operations since the usage and operation profile of a cargo aircraft is different from that of a passenger aircraft,» explains Rogério Botelho, Director of Program Development at Honeywell Aerospace.
Honeywell, a long-time ally of Embraer, is involved in several projects with the Brazilian aviation giant. The signing of this new contract represents not only the expansion of the collaboration between the two companies but also the development of a new scenario in the Latin American aviation market. «This new agreement is another example of the strength of our collaboration. It is also a testament to the strength of the cargo aviation sector, which grew significantly during the pandemic and has maintained its pace in the last year. Embraer noticed this movement in the market and launched the conversion project,» explains Botelho.
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For Botelho, aircraft leasing companies can also be potential customers for this conversion process. «Our expectation is that such companies will benefit from the growing demand for cargo aircraft, along with the recovery of the passenger market. As the first-generation E-Jets have been on the market since the early 2000s, many leasing companies trust in this aircraft, which can meet cargo needs by becoming part of the fleet,» he added.
Full cargo conversion is available for all E190 and E195 aircraft, which are scheduled to enter service in 2024. Embraer estimates a market for aircraft of this size of approximately 700 planes over the next 20 years. «We have a team at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos fully focused on this project. Embraer is making the necessary changes to the aircraft structure and other systems, while at Honeywell, we are working on the avionics system. It is a very important moment of organic growth for our collaboration and business in Latin America,» concludes Rogério Botelho.
In summary, Honeywell and Embraer have signed a new agreement for Honeywell to configure and certify changes in the avionics system of Embraer’s first-generation E-Jets to support cargo operations. This agreement marks the expansion of the collaboration between the two companies and highlights the growth of the cargo aviation sector. The conversion process is also expected to attract potential customers, including aircraft leasing companies. The project is currently underway, and the full cargo conversion will be available for all E190 and E195 aircraft scheduled to enter service in 2024.
