Embraer published images on its social networks of the first passenger E190 being converted into a freighter, the E190F. The jet is being modified at the company’s facilities in São José dos Campos, Brazil, as part of the P2F (Passenger to Freighter) program announced in March 2022.
The images show the replacement of part of the front fuselage section of the original E190 with a new one, with a large opening, where the aircraft’s cargo door will be installed.
The conversion work on the E190F also includes transforming the passenger cabin into cargo space, with a reinforced floor, in addition to installing smoke detectors and changes to the air generation system, among other items.
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The modification program allows the E190F to carry up to 10.7 tons of cargo while the larger E195F will have capacity for up to 12.3 tons of paid cargo.
According to the planemaker, the E190F will be capable of flying for 3,723 km (2,010 nautical miles) with maximum payload or 4,500 km (2,430 nautical miles) with maximum volumetric load.
The E195F has a range of 3,000 km (1,620 nautical miles) with maximum payload and 3,945 km (2,130 nautical miles) with maximum bulky payloads.
Agile freighter
Embraer hopes to fill a niche with capacity and range greater than cargo turboprops like the ATR 72-600F, but with lower costs than Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 converted for cargo.
The first customer of the P2F program will be Kenyan airline Astral Aviation, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) to lease the converted aircraft.
According to an agreement revealed in May 2022, NAC has up to 10 E-Jets conversion positions, with the first deliveries starting in 2024.
In addition to NAC, Embraer closed a second agreement to convert another ten E190/E195, but the name of the customer has not yet been revealed.
The most recent development of the P2F E-Jets was Embraer signing a letter of intent with the Lanzhou Aviation Industry Development Group to convert 20 aircraft into freighters in China.
