The Embraer 170 is a narrow-body regional jet produced by Brazilian manufacturer Embraer as part of its E-Jet family, which also includes the E175, E190, and E195 variants. Entering commercial service in 2004, the E170 seats between 70 and 80 passengers in a typical two-class configuration and is powered by two General Electric CF34-8E turbofan engines. The aircraft features a fly-by-wire flight control system, a wide-body-inspired cabin cross-section with a 2-2 seating arrangement, and a glass cockpit suite built around Honeywell Primus Epic avionics. It was designed specifically to fill the gap between turboprops and larger narrowbodies, targeting thin route markets where mainline jets are economically impractical.
For regional airline pilots and operators, the E170 represents a significant step up in systems complexity from turboprop or smaller CRJ-series aircraft. Its fly-by-wire architecture, while offering flight envelope protections similar to larger Airbus and Boeing platforms, requires pilots to understand mode logic and automation behavior in ways that differ meaningfully from conventional hydraulically-actuated control surfaces. Takeoff performance on the E170 is managed through the Flight Management System with computed V-speeds, and thrust management via the autothrottle system requires familiarity with TOGA, CLB, and reduced thrust derate logic — all operationally relevant for Part 121 crews flying under FAA-approved performance programs.
The E-Jet family has become one of the most commercially successful regional jet programs in aviation history, with over 1,400 aircraft delivered across the E170/E175/E190/E195 variants. In the United States market, the E175 has dominated regional fleet growth due to the scope clause provisions in major airline pilot contracts, which cap regional jet seat counts — a threshold the E175 fits within while the E190 and E195 do not. The E170, while less prevalent in current North American fleets, remains in active service with carriers in Europe, Latin America, and Asia, and is a common type rating pathway for pilots advancing toward larger transport category aircraft.
Embraer has since developed the second-generation E2 family — the E175-E2, E190-E2, and E195-E2 — featuring Pratt & Whitney PW1700G and PW1900G geared turbofan engines and substantially improved fuel efficiency. However, the original E-Jet platform continues to hold relevance as operators balance fleet economics against new aircraft acquisition costs. For corporate and charter operators, the E190 and E195 variants have seen niche use as executive transport platforms, with Embraer's Lineage 1000 derivative representing the high end of that market. The broader E-Jet ecosystem illustrates the sustained commercial viability of purpose-built regional jets as a distinct aircraft category in global aviation.