Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embraer_EMB_120_Brasilia

EMB 120 Brasilia

A Gulfstream International Airlines EMB 120 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Role	Regional airliner
Manufacturer	Embraer
First flight	July 27, 1983
Introduction	October, 1985
Status	Active
Primary users	SkyWest Airlines Brazilian Air Force
Produced	1983-2001; built individually as of 2007
Number built	350

The EMB 120 Brasilia is a twin-turboprop commuter airliner, produced by Embraer of Brazil.

Design and development

It first flew on 27 July 1983, and entered commercial service in October 1985. Since 1994, manufacture has focused exclusively on the EMB 120ER, with extended range (1,575 km) and increased capacity. It has a 30-passenger capacity.

Operational history

Most of the EMB 120s were sold in the United States and other places in the Western Hemisphere. Some European airlines such as Régional in France, DAT in Belgium, and DLT in Germany also purchased EMB-120s. Serial production ended in 2001. As of 2007, it is still available for one-off orders, as it shares much of the production equipment with the ERJ-145 family, which is still produced. The Angolan Air Force, for example, received a new EMB 120 in 2007.

The EMB 120 Brasilia and smaller EMB 110 Bandeirante are Embraer's only turboprop-driven aircraft in its civilian product line. SkyWest Airlines currently operates the largest fleet of EMB 120s under the United Express and Delta Connection brand.

Variants

EMB 120: Basic production version.
EMB 120ER: Extended range and increased capacity version. All EMB-120ER S/Ns may be converted into the model EMB-120FC or into the model EMB-120QC.
EMB 120FC: Full cargo version.
EMB 120QC: Quick change cargo version.
EMB 120RT: Transport version. All EMB-120RT S/Ns may be converted into the model EMB-120ER.
VC-97: VIP transport version for the Brazilian Air Force.

Operators

Civil operators

Airnorth Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia

In October 2008 less than 200 EMB 120 aircraft were in airline service around the world. Major operators include:

Australia

Brazil

Dominican Republic

Air Century (1)
Servicios Aereos Profesionales (1)

Ecuador

TAME operated by SAEREO (2)

France

Atlantique Air Assistance (1)

Honduras

Rollins Air (4)

Hungary

Budapest Aircraft Service (2)

Moldova

Air Moldova (1)

Russia

Atlant-Soyuz Airlines (2)

Spain

Swiftair (9)

United States

Some other 40 smaller companies also operate the aircraft

Military Operators

Angola

People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola

Brazil

Brazilian Air Force 17 in service

Uruguay

Uruguayan Air Force

Specifications (EMB 120ER)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: Two pilots and one flight attendant
Capacity: 30/37 passengers
Length: 20.00 m (65 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 19.78 m (64 ft 10 in)
Height: 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 39.4 m² (424 ft²)
Max takeoff weight: 11,990 kg (26,378 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118/118A/118B turboprops, 1,340 kW (1,800 shp) each
Maximum Landing Weight: 11,700 kg (25,740 lb)
Aspect Ratio: 9.86

Performance

Maximum speed: 620 km/h (335 knots, 385 mph)
Cruise speed: 555 km/h (300 knots, 345 mph)
Range: 1,428 km (771 nm, 887 mi)
Service ceiling: 9,756 m (32,000 ft)
Take-off Run: 1,100 m (3,610 ft) minimum

Avionics

Collins 5-screen Electronic Flight Instrument System
Dual autopilots

Accidents

Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2311, crashed in Brunswick, Georgia on April 5, 1991. The crash claimed the lives of all twenty-three people on board, including former U.S. Senator John Tower of Texas and astronaut Sonny Carter. This was due to propeller control failure.
Continental Express Flight 2574, broke up in flight on September 11, 1991, killing all of the passengers
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 529, crashed in a field near Carrollton, Georgia on August 21, 1995. Of the twenty-nine people on board, ten were killed. This was due to failure of a propeller blade and subsequent severe engine vibration and failure.
Comair Flight 3272 crashed in Michigan on January 9, 1997. All of the passengers and crew died.