EMBRAER has introduced the second of the four aircraft into the flight certification programme for the Embraer 190, with the aircraft completing its first flight at the manufacturer's S”o Jos” dos Campos headquarters. The aircraft took to the air at 11:48 am (local time) on May 9 for a 130 minute mission during which time it performed a range of systems validation tests. The aircraft will be principally used to complete a thorough evaluation of the new General Electric CF34-10E engines during the 18 month certification programme. Certification of the 100-seat Embraer 190 is expected in the third quarter of 2005, followed by first deliveries to US-based launch-customer JetBlue Airways.
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