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Embraer
- Stock Code:
- ERJ
- Date Founded:
- 1969-08-19
- CEO:
- Francisco Gomes Neto
- Headquarters Location:
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Key Product Lines:
- Embraer 170, Embraer 175, Embraer 190, Embraer 195, Embraer 175-E2, Embraer 190-E2, Embraer 195-E2
- Business Type:
- Planemaker
Embraer and Collins Aerospace have been collaborating on the development and testing of a new heating technology for ice protection systems. The two are testing an innovative carbon nanotube electro thermal heating technology (CNT) with the goal to make aircraft more efficient and sustainable.
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Embraer and Collins Aerospace developing new heating technology
The new carbon nanotube electro thermal heating ice protection system was installed on the vertical stabilizer of Embraer's Phenom 300E prototype, which is fully functional. In addition to installing the CNT ice protection system, Embraer and Collins Aerospace have flight tested the system as part of a flight test campaign at Embraer's facilities in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil. The CNT system, which was integrated into Phenom prototype, has already executed more than 10 hours of ground and "dry air" test flights. In December of last year, the first flight "ran successfully, smoothly, and flawlessly, demonstrating the seamless integration of the CNT heater technology ice protection system. "
Embraer is very pleased with the results of this collaboration with Collins Aerospace. Luis Carlos Affonso, Senior Vice President Engineering, Technology Development and Corporate Strategy at Embraer, said,
“We are very encouraged by the recent test results, and we are convinced that this innovative technology will meet our ambitious technological and sustainability roadmap. We are glad to have Collins on this journey to explore further partnership opportunities that will help create a net zero carbon aviation industry."
Dr. Mauro Atalla, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Technology, Collins Aerospace, added,
“This electrothermal CNT technology is more energy efficient, lighter and uses greener manufacturing processes than current systems, and we believe it will become the future standard for ice protection – including those in more electric aircraft designs. Collaborations such as the one between Collins and Embraer are helping innovations like this come to market more quickly.”
Heaters that use CNT technology have significant advantages over metallic heaters, which are currently used on aircraft. CNT technology eliminates the chemical energy process, which lowers the system level energy requirement by 25% and also minimizes the aerodynamic adverse effects caused by ice. In addition, the CNT heater is significantly lighter than a convention metallic heater and offers improved damage tolerance, which should result in a longer life cycle of the product.
Recent Embraer news
One of the most important international airshows, the Farnborough International Airshow is back for the first time since 2018. As always, the airshow has produced exciting headlines, some expected and others unexpected. Canadian airline, Porter Airlines, increased its order of Embraer's E195 E2 aircraft this week. Porter, North America launch customer of the E195 E2 had originally placed an order for 30 of the newest and largest E Jets with purchase rights for another 50 aircraft. On Tuesday, Porter announced that it added 20 aircraft to its current order.
Porter was going to be Canada's launch customer of the Bombardier CSeries aircraft (now known as the Airbus A220), but restrictions at Toronto's Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) prevented the airline from acquiring the Airbus aircraft. Now, Porter is set to become the North American launch customer of the E195 E2 and will receive its first aircraft in the coming months.