The latest Continental Express order for Embraer regional jets has proven a windfall for engine maker Rolls-Royce, whose AE3000-series engines power the Embraer ERJ-145 family.

Rolls will build a more powerful turbofan variant-the AE3007A1E-for 75 firm and 100 optional ERJ-145XR jets ordered by the Houston-based carrier, and a maintenance agreement raises the value of the deal to around $1.02 billion.

"We are very pleased to extend our relationship with Continental Express, which was the North American launch customer for the Embraer regional jet program," said Carmen Lloyd, president of Rolls-Royce's corporate and regional airlines engine unit.
Embraer expects the -A1E engines to provide 7% more thrust than the AE3007s on current ERJ-145s. Other modifications planned for the extended range (XR) model are winglets, an auxiliary fuselage fuel tank, and a reinforced structure to handle the new model's higher weights.
Deliveries of the 75 firm aircraft are slated to begin in early 2002. Anticipated performance benefits include a 500 nmi range increase to 2,000 nmi, improved hot-and-high and single-engine performance.

First certified in 1995, the AE3000 was derived from the Allison T406. The engine is available in the 6,500-8,400 lbs thrust range, but Rolls-Royce is planning growth variants producing as much as 12,000 lbs thrust.

Other applications for the AE3000 family include Cessna's Citation X business jet, and the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle.

By Paul Richfield