Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia

EMB-120 Brasilia
Swiftair EMB-120FC
Role Regional airliner
National origin Brazil
Manufacturer Embraer
First flight July 27, 1983
Introduction October, 1985
Status Active
Primary users Brazilian Air Force
Swiftair
Produced 1983–2001; built individually as of 2007
Number built 354


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

Design and development

After the success of the EMB 110 Bandeirante, Embraer began the development of their first transport category airliner in 1974. The so-called Family 12X comprised three models with modular concept designs: EMB 120 Araguaia, EMB 123 Tapajós and EMB 121 Xingu. EMB 121 was the sole 12X model effectively produced. Araguaia's name was changed to Brasilia in 1979 at the official launching of the project, when at a CAAA (Commuter Airline Association of America) convention at USA several suggestions from prospective operators were collected and incorporated to EMB 120 design. Thus, a completely new aircraft – no longer related to the 12X family – was launched. No common parts from EMB 121 Xingu were used, and the capacity was revised from 24 to 30 seats. Originally designed to utilise the new 1500 shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW115 turboprop, it was later upgraded to the 1892 eshp PW118.[1]

The Brasilia attracted immediate interest from many regional airlines, particularly in the USA. The size, speed and ceiling allowed faster and more direct services around the US and Europe, compared to similar aircraft. The first aircraft entered service with Atlantic Southeast Airlines in October 1985. The basic EMB 120RT was upgraded to the extended range (1,575 km) EMB 120 ER, with older aircraft retrofitted via a Service Bulletin.[2]

Operational history

Most of the EMB 120s were sold in the United States and other destinations in the Western Hemisphere. Some European airlines such as Régional in France, Atlant-Soyuz Airlines in Russia, 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.[3]

Great Lakes Airlines operates six EMB 120s in its fleet, and Ameriflight flies eight as freighters.

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.[4]
EMB 120FC
Full cargo version.
An Ameriflight EMB-120ER Brasilia at the company's Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport headquarters.
EMB 120QC
Quick change cargo version.
EMB 120RT
Transport version. All EMB-120RT S/Ns may be converted into the model EMB-120ER.[4]
VC-97
VIP transport version for the Brazilian Air Force.

Operators

Civil operators

Airnorth Brasilia at Darwin Airport
SkyWest Brasilia

As of May 2014, 130 EMB 120 aircraft are in airline service around the world. Current operators include:[5]

 Angola
 Australia
 Brazil
 Cayman Islands
 Ecuador
 Hungary
 Mexico
 Nigeria
 Russia
 Turks and Caicos Islands
 Spain
 United States
 Venezuela

Some 14 other airlines also operate the aircraft.

Military operators

 Angola
 Brazil
Uruguayan EMB-120 at Fidae 2016
 Ecuador
 Uruguay

Specifications (EMB 120)

EMB-120 Cockpit
Line drawings of EMB-120 'Brasilia'

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89[7]

General characteristics

Performance

Avionics

Accidents and incidents

Preserved aircraft

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. "Embraer 40 anos: A família 12X- in Portuguese".
  2. "EMB 120 Brasilia History". Embraer.
  3. 1 2 Embraer Reports Third-Quarter 2007 Deliveries and Updates Order Book
  4. 1 2 Federal Aviation Regulations Type Certificate No. A31SO
  5. http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media/reports_pdf/emptys/106686/world-airliner-census-2013.pdf
  6. "World Airliner Census 2011, pg 35". Flight Global," 13–19 December 2011. Retrieved: 10 January 2012
  7. Taylor 1988, pp. 12-13.
  8. Accident description for N219AS at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 3 October 2013.
  9. Accident description for FAB-2001 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 13 August 2011.
  10. Patti Muck (September 16, 1991). "Crash searchers find stabilizer/Discovery points to maintenance mix-up, not bomb". The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  11. "ASN Aircraft accident Embraer 120RT Brasilia PT-WKH Fortaleza, CE". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  12. "ASN Aircraft accident Embraer 120ER Brasilia PT-WRQ Rio Branco-Pres. Medici Airport, AC (RBR):". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  13. "ASN Aircraft accident Embraer 120ER Brasilia PT-WRO Manaus, AM". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  14. Hall, Lex (24 March 2010). "Pilots were killed on dangerous exercise". The Australian. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  15. "Two pilots killed in Darwin plane crash". Northern Territory News. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  16. "Media briefing: Aircraft accident at Darwin Airport". Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  17. Australian Associated Press (22 March 2010). "Two killed in plane crash at Darwin". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  18. "Collision with terrain, VH-ANB" (PDF). ATSB. 22 March 2010. Retrieved May 2010.
  19. Accident description for T-500 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 3 October 2013.
  20. "Accidents and incidentsv news". J.A.C.D.E.C. - Jet Airliner Crash Data Evaluation Centre:. 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  21. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  22. Simon Hradecky (October 12, 2011). "Accident: Nationale E120 at Port Gentile on Oct 12th 2011, unsafe nose gear, overran runway, wings twisted". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  23. Simon Hradecky. "Accident: Inter Iles E120 near Moroni on 27 November 2012, engine trouble, ditched in the Ocean". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  24. "Nigeria: Plane crashes after take-off from Lagos" http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/10/03/nigeria-plane-crash-lagos/2914067/
  25. Accident description for 5N-BJY at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 3 October 2013.
  26. Kitching, Chris (5 August 2015). "Dramatic moment firefighters hosed down passenger plane after it was forced to make emergency landing without nose gear". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  27. Lucio Daou (March 2012). "Photo: PT-ZBA (CN: 120001) Embraer Embraer EMB-120 Brasília". JetPhotos.Net. Retrieved 8 July 2013.

Further reading

External links

Media related to Embraer EMB 120 at Wikimedia Commons

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