Embraer (EMB, São José dos Campos Professor Urbano Ernesto Stumpf) has decided to put plans to return to the turboprop market on a backburner, as the Brazilian manufacturer focuses on the certification of E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft, CEO John Slattery has told Reuters.
The manufacturer floated the idea of resuming production of turboprop aircraft after a nearly two-decade hiatus last year and continues to study the idea, but there are no "immediate plans" to reenter the market, Slattery has added.
"Until we get our E2 certified and sold it will be difficult for me to go to the shareholders and ask for investment for a new platform, and I am acutely conscious of that," Embraer's CEO said.
The serial production of E120s, the last of Embraer's turboprops, ended in 2001. According to the ch-aviation fleets module, the manufacturer delivered a total of 361 aircraft of the type between 1983 and the cessation of production. The E145 was designed as a jet-powered development of the EMB-120 and shares a large portion of parts with the earlier turboprop.
If Embraer decides to resume production of turboprops, it would pit the manufacturer against Bombardier Aerospace and ATR - Avions de Transport Régional, which currently dominate the segment.
