Supply Side

Embraer The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Brazil's Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial recently cleared the Embraer [ERJ] 190 for commercial use. The European Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada Civil Aviation are both expected to certify the new aircraft in the near future. Embraer used...

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Embraer

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Brazil's Centro Tecnico Aeroespacial recently cleared the Embraer [ERJ] 190 for commercial use. The European Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada Civil Aviation are both expected to certify the new aircraft in the near future. Embraer used five planes that flew 1,800 test hours in the certification process. More than 140 tests were also conducted in ground laboratories and in simulators. The airplane is the third and largest to date in the Embraer 170/190 family to be certified. The Embraer 195, now in test flights, should be certified next summer. With the FAA's certification of 100-seat plane, Embraer can now begin deliveries to its launch customer, JetBlue [JBLU], and to General Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). GE has provided the jet engines for the 170/190 family. JetBlue has ordered 100 of the planes and has options for another 100.

With the certification of the Embraer 190, CAE obtained FAA certification for a full-flight simulator it built for JetBlue at Orlando International Airport. The simulator is considered a Level C trainer, but it will be upgraded to a Level D next year.

Embraer has sold six Embraer 190LRs to Regional, a subsidiary of Air France. The planes will replace an existing order of seven ERJ 145s. The contract is valued at $189 million. Regional has an option to buy six additional 190LRs. The first of the planes, configured to seat 100 passengers in one cabin, will be delivered in the first quarter of 2007. Regional will use the planes to link 45 European cities.

Embraer's Chinese partner, Harbin Embraer Aircraft, delivered the first of five 50-seat ERJ 145s to China Eastern Airlines. The order is expected to be filled by next April. This marks the second order delivered by Harbin.

Bombardier

Bombardier Aerospace [BBD] last week opened a new 238,000-square-foot distribution center at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The facility will provide operators of both its regional and business jets a centralized distribution point for more than 120,000 unique parts. Spare parts from suppliers and Bombardier's own manufacturing plants continue to arrive daily. The warehouse, which will replace smaller facilities in Detroit and Wichita, is expected to be fully stocked by later this fall. Its 200 employees will handle between 800 and 1,000 orders a day. A second super warehouse will open in Frankfurt, Germany. Bombardier has contracted with Caterpillar Logistics Services to manage both warehouses. In addition, it has hired Expeditors International to deliver the spare parts to aircraft operators around the world.

ATR

Air Caledonie signed a contract with ATR to buy three new planes: one ATR 42-500 and two ATR 72-500s. The firm order last week follows up on the letter of intent the carrier signed earlier this summer at the Paris Airshow. The contract is valued at $50 million. Already an ATR client, the order for the two 70-seat turboprops will give Air Caledonie greater capacity on its inter-island routes. The new planes are expected to be delivered in 2006 and 2007. The carrier currently flies three ATR 42-320s.

South Korea's Hansung Airlines placed its first ATR 72-200 into service earlier this month. The plane, configured to seat 66, was delivered last month to the low-cost, private airline. Hansung has ordered a second ATR 72-200, which will be delivered early next year. Hansung, the nation's first regional carrier, plans to add 10 airplanes to its fleet within the next five years.

GE

Republic Airways [RJET] has signed a 10-year service agreement with General Electric [GE] for the maintenance, overhaul and repair of 110 CF34-8E engines powering the airline's Embraer 170 aircraft. The agreement is valued at approximately $150 million. Republic currently operates a fleet of nearly 30 Embraer 170 aircraft and will take control of another 28, which are now part of MidAtlantic Airways. The service contracts cover overhaul, on-wing support, new and used parts, component repair, technology upgrades, engine leasing and diagnostics.