EAC 150:
After the launch of the EAC-80-200, in 2003, the Emperor Aerospace Consortium began a series of feasibility studies for the developement of narrow-body short-haul jetliner to be built domestically. In the next nine years, among the various options considered, were a possible purchase of NAC (Netherlands Aircraft Company, also known as Rekkof) to build or license-build upgraded versions of the Fokker 70/100 family, or forming a joint-venture with Kawasaki for the developement of the YPX. Studies for an all-domestic airplane progressed in parallel, and ultimately, all the options involving foreign joint-ventures fell through. EAC became the last player to join the recent narrowbody race, offically launching its program in February 2012, pressured by the launch of the Boeing 737Max, Comac 919 and Embraer E2 families in 2010/2011. The manufactures has however manged to recover most of its lag and there is a strong consensus that its models -officialy designated as the EAC-150-Family- might beat into service both the Comac and Irkut families (the latter officially launched a whole four years before EAC announcement) and trailing the Embraers by just a few months. A fact supported by the decision of airlines such as LAO, Myanmar National, City Airways, Cairo Aviation, and Azerbaijan Airlines -which all had on order the Chinese or Russian-built models to switch their orders to the Kokoan machines.
The aircrafts were disegned with a cabin width of 3,73 meters (slightly more than that of the Airbus A320) allowing for a six-abreast seating. The fuselage itself measures 3,99m in width and 4,07m in height. The aircraft makes large use of composite materials for the fuselage, wings and tailfin. The flight-deck features first-class technology instruments with fly-by-wire systems and LCD screens, but retains the central control column with a yoke like Boeing aircrafts instead of the side-stick of the Airbus. The passenger cabin offers larger windows (in line with the Bombardier CSeries) and one of the largest overhead-bin volume available for passengers. The wings, with a standard span of 34,49m (expanded on some models to 35,89), have double-slotted flaps, slats and blended winglets. The EAC-150 is also the only aircraft other the the A320neo to offer both the CFM-Leap and P&W 1100 high-bypass turbofans (and the only one other than the aforementioned A320 and Irkut-21 allowing for an engine choice). All models have a service ceiling of 12.500 meters and a cruise speed of 870km/h.
The base model, and first type to be launched, is the EAC-150-200 -also offered in the longer range -ER version- is designed to seat 129 passengers in a two-class configuration. The airplane is 36,47m long with a wingspan of 34,49m. Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) is 69.030kg, for a range of 6.890km. The extended range adds extra fuel tanks with an expanded wingspan to 35,89m and higher thrust engines. MTOW is also increased to 71.604kg, allowing to fly non-stop up to 9.250km. The EAC-150-200 first flew on October 1st 2017, and is expected to enter service by the fourth quarter of 2018 with launch customer Air Hoshiguma. The -ER version will follow shortly after with scheduled delivery to launch customer Fiji Airways. As of December 2017 the EAC-150-200 has a backlog of 182 orders and 90 options.
The second model, launched in 2014, is the EAC-150-100. Features a fuselage shrink of 3,16m for a length of 33,31m and can seat 102 passengers in a two-class configuration. MTOW is 58.306kg and range 6.141km. Winglets are offered as a standard feature, but they can be removed as an option (although no airline has requested it yet). In addition to that, the vertical stabilizer is higher to compensate for the shorter fuselage. First flight is planned for January 2018, as EAC plans to showcase both the 150-100 and -200 at the Singapore Airshow. Entry into service is planned for the 1st quarter of 2019 with launch customer Megami Koku. As of December 2017 the EAC-150-200 has a backlog of 94 orders and 48 options.
EAC launched the 150-300 in 2016, after an order for 14 (plus 17 options) from Garuda Indonesia. Compared to the -200, the fuselage is stretched to 39,57m, for a capacity of 166 passengers in a two-class configuration. The wings have the extended span of the -200ER, measuring 35,89m. MTOW is 79.435kg and range 6.602km. First flight is planned for the second half of 2018 with deliveries to start not later than 2019. As of December 2017 the EAC-150-300 has a backlog of 45 orders and 36 options.
EAC is also considering a further stretch under the EAC-150-400 denomination to seat 188 passengers in two classes or more. It would call for a 44,47-meter total length and a MTOW around 89.700kg. Range would be around the 6.100/6.200km mark. Both Nanpo no Kido and Pan-Am have expressed interest in such a model, with the latter asking to extend the aircraft range to over 7.000km. If interest for the model grows and materializes in more commitments or firm orders during the Singapore Airshow EAC plans to officially lanuch the model and have it in service by 2020 or early 2021 at worst.
Overall, as of December 2017 the EAC-150-Family has allotted a backlog of 321 firm orders and 174 options.