Helvetic Airways Embraer E190-E2 makes a record-length flight
The transatlantic delivery flight for the latest member of Helvetic Airways’ flagship Embraer E190-E2 fleet took the aircraft from Natal, the capital of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte, to Zurich in Switzerland. Helvetic Airways’ fifth new E190-E2 left Brazil at 06:37 (local time) on Thursday 2 July and landed in Zurich at 20:48 (local time) the same evening. The non-stop flight had taken 9 hours and 10 minutes and totalled 7 488 kilometres – numbers more usually associated with a long-haul aircraft than with a short- to medium-haul jet.
The flight was performed under optimum conditions that bear no comparison to regular passenger operations. And with the meteorological conditions also ideal, the crew of José Alfredo Thomé Penna Jr. (Embraer pilot), Almir Suman de Azevedo (Embraer pilot), Giovanni Zanivan (Helvetic Airways pilot), Sebastian Fischer (Helvetic Airways flying engineer) and Bruno Jans (Helvetic Airways project leader) conducted it to perfection.
In regular passenger service the Embraer E190-E2 has a maximum takeoff weight of 54 tonnes and can transport up to 110 passengers over 5 200 kilometres. With its impressive latest-generation Pratt & Whitney PW1900G engines, the E190-E2 also consumes more than 20% less fuel per seat than its predecessor type.
Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways has been offering a range of short- and medium-haul services from Swiss airports since 2006. The airline operates Embraer E190-E2, E195-E2, E190 and E195 aircraft on scheduled, charter and wet-lease flights. Under a long-term wet-lease agreement, up to 15 Helvetic Airways aircraft operate on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines.
Helvetic Airways employs around 600 people. The company also has its own maintenance hangar at its corporate headquarters at Zurich Airport, staffed by around 60 aircraft mechanics. The airline offers innovative part-time models in the cockpit and cabin such as, for cabin crew, the Ski&Fly and Fly&Study options as well as the fully flexible Fly your way model. Current vacancies can be found at career.helvetic.com.
Helvetic Airways works closely with Horizon Swiss Flight Academy AG, based in Kloten since 2008 (www.horizon-sfa.ch). Both companies are part of the Helvetic Airways Group, headquartered in Freienbach, Switzerland.
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Simon Benz
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