The Embraer Regionals

Instead of doing all of the regionals at once, I have decided to do them in separate posts to encourage me not to be lazy. Before I start talking about the E-Jets though, I should define what is a "regional" airliner. Regional jets or turboprops are usually short-to-medium haul (topping out at around 3,000nm) and seat up to 120 passengers. This includes the smaller B737 and A320 variants that are considered large regionals. These rules are not absolute. For example, some might considers the smaller MD80s as regionals, but I don't. Most of the time regionals feed larger aircraft and airlines by connecting low density markets (such as Rochester or Springfield, Illinois) to airline hubs or larger airports such as JFK or LAX.

The Brazilian aviation company Embraer has largely produced business jets. But since the E-Jets series introduction into commercial service in 2004, Embraer has been steadily becoming a bigger player in the regional airliner market. The E-170/-175 and E-190/-195 are medium haul, narrowbody twins. They are considered "large" regional jets with their passenger capacities ranging from 80 to 122 passengers in high density configurations (i.e. single class, no leg room seating arrangement). The E-Jets or ERJs as they can be called are essentially four variations on the same general design. Each variant is really just a stretched version of the previous one. The E-170/-175 have the same wingspan, fuselage height and width, and engines. The E-190/195 are also similarly paired with the same wingspan, fuselage height and width, and engines. According to Wikipedia, the E-170/-175 and E-190/-195 families have 89% commonality, whereas each family pair has 95% commonality.

Anyway, how do you spot the ERJs? Telling them apart from one another is probably really difficult, so I won't get into that.

The best way to differentiate an ERJ from say a A320 or B737 is the nose. The nose slope is similar to the much larger B757 in that its a straight angle from the top of the fuselage to the bottom, like a high-speed rail locomotive*. They kind of look like mini B787s as well. Also, I believe the E-Jets are the smallest (especially the -170/-175) twin engine jet liners with the engines below each wing in pods. The E-190 and E-195 are similar in size to its chief competitor, the A320. Finally I have noticed that the windows on the ERJs are spaced farther apart than most other below wing twins, i.e. the B737 and A320.

The E-Jets are beautifully designed, efficient aircraft, which explains their success. Their largest operator is JetBlue, who operates 41 E-190s with 64 still on order. If you ride JetBlue, either you're on a E-190 or A320.

*Here is a picture of a high speed locomotive just in case you don't know what I'm talking about: