Some people aren’t sure if they’re ready to take off on Embraer’s upcoming commercial jets, which will feature new auto-takeoff technology.
The major aircraft manufacturer, which makes planes for airlines around the world, unveiled its “E2 Enhanced Takeoff System” to reduce pilot workload and produce “more precise and efficient torque and flight path”, the company announced at an air show in England in July.
Embraer hopes the upgrades will streamline takeoffs for consistency and increase payload on its E195-E2, E190-E2 and E175 aircraft.
Now passengers and pilots are debating whether the takeoff technology coming in 2025 is necessary. In a Reddit post — titled “Automated Takeoff: Good Idea or Not?” — people with initial thoughts come forward.
Embraer’s E195-E2 during a demonstration in July 2024.
John Keeble/Getty
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“Companies trying to make some modern money by solving non-existent problems,” one Reddit user wrote in September. “Notice that all the push to continue automating commercial aviation comes from unrelated MBAs with no aviation experience whose motivation is profit. Not aviation or security.”
Meanwhile, another said the takeoff technology is likely to work similarly to existing automatic landing systems.
“The big selling point they’re pushing this on is that at airports like London City and Florence where you’re very often performance constrained, then this system will be able to do a ‘perfect’ take off which means you can carry more fuel/payload”, the user explained. “I am currently flying the predecessor and will probably be done with this 195-E2 by the end of the decade. I imagine it will be used just like Autoland … only when really needed. If that means I don’t have to sit on the ground peeing with weights and making numbers work, then I’m all for it.”
The Reddit thread linked to a CNN article that quoted Embraer’s chief performance engineer Patrice London as saying, “The system is better than the pilot.”
He added: “That’s because it works the same way all the time. If you do 1,000 takeoffs, you’ll get 1,000 exactly the same takeoffs.”
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Embraer President and CEO Arjan Meijer said in a press release announcing the upgrade that his company is committed to safety.
“Our goal is to constantly improve our aircraft and these upgrades — reducing fuel consumption and emissions; increase in range; improving the passenger and cabin experience; and adding new technology and connectivity — is great news for both our customers and their guests,” Meijer said. “Embraer is committed to providing the safest, most efficient, most comfortable and most commercially viable jets to our customers.”
Embraer, which claims its planes carry 145 million passengers each year, also highlighted the financial benefits of the upgrades in the announcement.
“In addition to improving operational efficiency, these measures also deliver a net present value of $6 million per aircraft over 15 years in cost reductions and additional revenue,” the company said.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education