Embraer announced Monday the company received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration on August 31 for its Embraer 175 -- paving the way for deliveries of the regional airliner to begin in the United States.

US certification was based on the original type certificate issued by the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) earlier this year. The Embraer 175 has also been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA).

In a single class configuration, the Embraer 175 can accommodate 78 passengers at 32-inch (81 cm) pitch -- or up to 88 passengers in its maximum capacity.

Embraer states the Embraer 175, along with the three other EJets -- the Embraer 170, the Embraer 190 and the Embraer 195 -- enjoys the highest level of pilots training commonality, providing unprecedented flexibility to airlines who operate aircraft of its size.

"With the scope clause trend in the United States being revised to cover aircraft capacities up to 76 seats or even higher, the Embraer 175 in dual class configuration becomes an excellent option for airlines that are looking for this size of airplane and at the same time want to offer their passengers a comfort level equivalent or superior to those of mainline narrowbody jets," said Luiz Sérgio Chiessi, Vice-President, Market Intelligence-Airline Market.

The Embraer 175 is currently in operation with Air Canada (above), LOT Polish Airlines and India's Paramount Airways. As of August 2006, Embraer had delivered 1,129 jet aircraft from the E-Jets and ERJ 145 families, which are currently flying with 88 operators in 35 countries.

FMI: www.embraer.com