The Embraer [ERJ] 195 successfully performed its first flight last week in Brazil.

The 108-seat aircraft is the largest of the four models in the Embraer 170/190 family. Embraer expects to have the aircraft certified by the second quarter of 2006. The company has already taken 15 firm orders and 20 options of the plane. The launch customer will be Swiss with 15 firm orders and 10 options. General Electric Capital Aviation (GECAS) has taken 10 options on the plane.

The company's first model, the Embraer 170, entered into commercial service earlier this year. Its second model, the Embraer 190, is on course for certification in the second half of 2005. JetBlue [JBLU] will be the launch customer for the 190.

As of Sept. 30, Embraer has 325 firm orders and 383 options on the 170/190 family.