embraer170

Embraer has signed a $250m flight hour pool programme agreement with Republic Airways to provide component support services to the airline’s fleet of E170, E175, E190 and ERJ-145 jetliners.

The flight hour pool programme has been designed to benefit from Embraer’s technical expertise and component service provider network, while minimising an airline’s investment on repairable inventories and resources.

Delivering assured levels of performance, the programme also offers cost savings and reduces required warehousing space.

Under the deal, Embraer will cover a total of 308 aircraft and provide support for more than 400 repairable parts, including hydraulic, electrical and engine components.

The aircraft will also include Republic Airways’ latest firm order for 47 E175 jets and 47 options.

"Delivering assured levels of performance, the programme also offers cost savings and reduces required warehousing space."

Republic Airways chief executive officer Bryan Bedford said that leveraging on manufacturing partners’ expertise at the component maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) level will help the airline achieve improved economics in the operation of its growing E-jet aircraft fleet.

Work under the agreement for the Republic E-Jet aircraft, including E-170, E-175 and E-190 variants, will run through February 2020, whereas support for the ERJ-145 jets will be covered until December 2017.

Republic Airways Holdings owns Chautauqua Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America, which operate more than 280 aircraft with 1,500 flights daily to around 145 cities in the US.

More than 30 airlines are currently part of Embraer’s flight hour pool programme.

Image: Republic Airways’ E-Jet fleet to receive component support from Embraer. Photo: file image.

Defence Technology