The new Embraer KC-390 has arrived at Embraer´s facility in Jacksonville, Florida, from Brazil for a series of flight trials. The multi-mission military transport and tanker jet will begin the trials as part of its flight test campaign for certification. Tests in the aircraft’s avionics systems, measurement of external noise, and operations with cross wind will be performed over the next two to three weeks.
“The KC-390 sets new standards in the market and the flight test campaign is progressing extremely well matching the aircraft design goals,” revealed Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.
“We are very satisfied with the maturity that this product has already reached and fully confident that its certification will be achieved as scheduled.”
Missions the aircraft is capable of performing include transporting cargo/troops or dropping paratroopers; aerial refuelling; search and rescue; medical evacuation and aerial firefighting; and supporting humanitarian missions. The KC-390 can transport up to 26 metric tons of cargo at a maximum speed of 470kts (870km/h), as well as operate in hostile environments, including from unprepared or damaged runways.
Both KC-390 prototypes have demonstrated high rates of availability, accumulating more than 1,450 flight hours since the start of the flight test campaign in 2015. Initial Operational Capability should be achieved by the end of the year with first delivery scheduled for 2018.
November 23, 2017
