Embraer unveils historic world-1st auto takeoff system for passenger planes

In a first in the aviation industry, Embraer has introduced an automatic takeoff system on one of its commercial jets.

The Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System (E2TS) system is designed to provide its E2 passenger aircraft with an optimal profile and automated takeoff. This allows for increased fuel capacity, which extends the range and boosts the onboard payload.

The Brazilian manufacturer’s design claims to improve rotation and trajectory, reduce field length, and lessen pilot workload. Other than a software update, no aircraft modifications are required.

The announcement was made on July 23 at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom, along with several enhancements and performance gains throughout its commercial jet product lineup.

New era in aviation

Automatic landing (autoland) has been a part of commercial aviation since the 1960s, though its use has become more prevalent over the past few decades.

Now, Embraer’s autonomous landing system is marking a world first for any commercial aircraft. Scheduled to enter service by the end of 2025, E2TS claims to enhance takeoff and landing profiles and offers an additional range of approximately 350 miles.

Embraer has already begun offering this option to customers, highlighting the system’s potential to “extract more value out of the ecosystem” and generate significant interest, reports Aerospace Global News .

The system operates via a patented software upgrade to the existing flight control system, eliminating the need for aircraft modifications. Pilots activate auto takeoff mode, set the autothrottle, and engage the autopilot.

While pilots remain responsible for heading and power lever settings, the system manages the rotation.

Additionally, the E2’s GTF engines benefit from newly optimized climb thrust, which decreases engine demands and extends time on the wing by up to 10 percent. Over 15 years, this improvement can save operators approximately half a million dollars per aircraft.

Overall, Embraer says E2TS enhances takeoff efficiency, reduces pilot workload, extends aircraft range, and offers significant cost savings through engine optimization.

Arjan Meijer, President and CEO of Embraer Commercial Aviation stated that the decision to develop and launch the E2TS stemmed from customer demand and the desire to advance their avionics capabilities to the “next level.”

According to LaraNews , Meijer confirmed that offers have already been extended to customers to retrofit the E2TS on aircraft currently awaiting delivery once it is launched.

Advances in autonomous flight

Airbus was the first to trial an automated take-off system with its Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off, and Landing (ATTOL) project, which concluded in June 2020 after an extensive two-year flight test program.

In the project, Airbus demonstrated fully automatic vision-based taxiing, takeoff, and landing using onboard image recognition technology.

More than five hundred test flights were conducted during the project. About 450 of these flights were devoted to collecting raw video data to support and improve algorithms. In addition, the autonomous flight capabilities were verified during six test flights, with five takeoffs and landings in each.

Airbus claims that the goal of the ATTOL project was to investigate how pilot focus could be shifted from aircraft operations to mission management and strategic decision-making through autonomous technologies, including machine learning algorithms and automated tools for data classification, processing, and model generation.

This project allowed Airbus to assess the potential of these technologies to enhance future aircraft operations while maintaining the highest levels of safety. However, Airbus did not implement the system in commercial airplanes still in operation.

When this technology launches at the end of next year, Embraer will become the first company in the world to produce such software for commercial use. The technology has been in development for the past three years and is almost ready for implementation.