Embraer Collaborates With Widerøe, And Rolls-Royce To Develop Zero-Emission Aircraft

Embraer 190 aircraft on takeoff. (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA – Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer said on Wednesday, February 16 that it had signed a research partnership with Norwegian companies Widerøe and Rolls-Royce to create a regional aircraft without exhaust emissions.

The study will last 12 months and will provide pre-competitive research and development of sustainable aircraft for regional distances.

Embraer also hopes to decide later this year or early next year, to launch a new turboprop aircraft that could enter service sometime in 2027.

According to Embraer's President of Commercial Aviation, Arjan Meijer, on Wednesday, February 16, Embraer is also in talks with other aircraft engine makers, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and GE about providing engines for aircraft. The cooperation decision is expected to appear in the second half of this year.

"It will be upgraded but will still use conventional engine technology on the aircraft," he told Reuters by telephone at the Singapore Airshow.

He declined to comment on the fuel efficiency of the new planes, which tend to be compared to existing turboprops in an aviation industry dominated by ATR, a joint venture between Airbus (AIR.PA) and Leonardo (LDOF.MI).

Another Western turboprop maker, De Havilland Canada, has completed all orders for its Dash 8-400 aircraft, resulting in production being halted, raising wider questions about turboprop demand. ATR and De Havilland both use Pratt & Whitney engines.

Meijer said the proposed Embraer turboprop aircraft would be less noisy than existing aircraft and have 70 and 90 seat versions. Meanwhile, the larger size will carry more passengers than the ATR72.

Meijer could not disclose the estimated cost of the company's program, but added that it was in talks with several financial and industry partners for development.

President of Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace, Chris Cholerton, said his company, which focuses on wide-body aircraft engines, is seeking to submit an attractive turboprop engine proposal to Embraer.

"I think we're going to see a significant reduction in fuel burn, and because of that we're very positive about the potential of that product," he told reporters at the air show.

Rolls-Royce is also conducting engine studies for the Supersonic Boom, which is planning a 55-seat supersonic passenger jet.

Cholerton said Rolls-Royce remained involved with Boom Supersonic but stressed it was a study, not a contract, and considerations such as the size of the market for the jet should still be taken into account.

Pratt & Whitney and GE did not immediately respond to requests for comment about Embraer's turboprop plans.