question for E-170 pilots

[da90drivr]

Disclaimer: These questions are not company specific (not interested in work rules or pay issues).

Is the plane reliable?
Are the avionics user friendly?
Are the systems laid out logically?

Looking for a general overview of the plane.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Cracker]

1. Yes. When it first came online, there were growing pains but the majority of those have been fixed by the manufacturers. So, yes, it is reliable.

2. Yes, the avionics are user friendly. There is a bit of a learning curve, but that is nothing new.

3. And, yes, it is about as logical a system layout as you could ask for. Training and sim was, actually, an enjoyable experience.


It is a very nice aircraft, and very pilot friendly.

 

[MAX CON]

Like Cracker wrote....But also the E170 has a narrow body feel to it unlike the traditional regional a/c. With GE CF-34-8E at 14000 max rated thrust you have a little power when you need it..

 

[Aerosurfer]

All "Guppy Killer" Lines aside, it is a plane that was built with Ergonomics alongside function. From the Pax to FA to Pilots it seems to have been designed with comfort and usability in mind.

IE: Finally a plane built by people who fly planes instead of Midget Engineers in rooms with no Windows!!!

 

[foreverfo]

I've ridden in the back of the plane may times. It seems very nice and spacious in the back. It does have the stiff wing feel during bumps. Only complaint would be that the environmental system sucks. Constanly 100 degrees in the back when the packs would do their own thing or FAs control was for their own comfort, who knows....now on the flips side....I can't tell you how many times I've returned to the gate in that thing or have tried to jumpseat out of IAH seeing 3 of those things parked due to maintenance causing all sorts of chaos getting to CLT.

Hence the nickname..the E-180!!!

 

[Cardinal]

I'll ask this again, what level of protections does the Fly-By-Wire provide? Is it Airbus-esque, i.e., Alpha floor, pitch/roll limits, autotrim, etc? Or is it more like the 777, where the pilot is still allowed to do creative stuff?

 

[foreverfo]

Im gonna guess that its all hyrdaulically controlled(except the elevator like the 145) hence not fly by wire.. Alpha floor is beyond my limited knowledge and the auto trim...what?? The trim prolly cuts out after 3 secs or so. Now some inputs may be electronically controlled like braking and the tiller..meaning...all you're doing is putting in inputs and getting feedback via computer...I'm sure the 170 is better than the 145...i'll let those guys give you a better answer.

 

[3blade]

everything is FBW except for the ailerons.

 

[Spinplate]

what kind of missles can it carry?

 

[labbats]

Do the winglets get you more chicks?

 

[Beechnut]

As a CRJ pilot, I can tell you winglets do NOT get you more chicks.

It's the windows. Girls are already bent over to look outside. After that, getting them a little lower ain't no big deal.

Reaching a new low,

S.

 

[labbats]

Another bright side for you Beechnut, is that your FAs are commonly past menopause, so no worries of getting a paternity suit!

 

[Beechnut]

.....

 

[k9nole]

The pilot seat is very uncomfortable for a 3 plus hour flight. Some jumpseats are more comfortable.
EMB is looking into the seat comfort problem.

Another small detail that was overlooked was no place to put pilot luggage in the cockpit. More than once, a passenger has walked off with a pilots bag when deplaning.

 

[3blade]

I don't think I've ever sat in a jumpseat that was more comfortable than the actual pilot seat. Its not that bad but its not that great either, as far as room for luggage in the cockpit, welcome to the regionals! we've still got a lot more room up front than the CRJ or ERJ those guys are seriously cramped, and they can't even open a window!

 

[Mercy98]

The airplane is getting more and more reliable, but it does still have some occasional issues. Not so much the flight control/ hydraulic problem we once had, but pack and bleed problems or an initial startup for first flight that has to be powered back down. They are getting fewer and fewer though.

The airplane is very user friendly. The interface (mousepad) is reliable and doesn't take much getting used to. That goes for the flight control panel as well. I would compare the overall presentation to the Airbus. The cockpit is roomy, but the seat cushion is a little bit to be desired; after 2 hrs sitting.

The systems are pretty straightforward. The nice thing about them too is that the are always there for your review one of the screens if you wish.

 

[Captain X]

EMB is looking into the seat comfort problem.

Sure they are.............

 

[PIREP]

I don't think I've ever sat in a jumpseat that was more comfortable than the actual pilot seat. Its not that bad but its not that great either, as far as room for luggage in the cockpit, welcome to the regionals! we've still got a lot more room up front than the CRJ or ERJ those guys are seriously cramped, and they can't even open a window!

Ever sat in a 767-400 jumpseat? Pretty comfy. I'd say more comfy than the 170 pilot seat (more padding).

 

[BlackPilot628]

We did get a questionnaire from EMB and Republic Holdings in reference to the Pilot seats. EMB is looking into a new company to produce the seats for the airplane.

 

[LegacyDriver]

You guys never flew the DO-328-100 did you? Talk about uncomfortable. The only pilot seat that is worse would have to be the F-4 "Phantom" (apparently it was designed by torture specialists to make you feel like you are always falling forward off the seat).

328 may as well have been equipped with a wooden bench for my money.

The 170 doesn't have 145 seats???

 

[SkyWestCRJPilot]

I've ridden in the back a handful of times and I prefer it to a 737 or A320. Lots of space and wide aisles and very big windows. I jumpseated in the actual once too and I was very impressed. It's a nice airplane. Plus it is configured for 64 economy seats and 6 first class seats instead of 60 economy seats and 6 first class seats like SkyWest's CRJ-700s. Plus it has two lavs and two galleys.

 

[jobear]

You guys never flew the DO-328-100 did you? Talk about uncomfortable. The only pilot seat that is worse would have to be the F-4 "Phantom" (apparently it was designed by torture specialists to make you feel like you are always falling forward off the seat).

328 may as well have been equipped with a wooden bench for my money.

The 170 doesn't have 145 seats???

The seats in the 170 are a notch above the DOHjet albeit a small notch its more like a soft concrete than a case hardend steel of the 328

Jobear
Please no more Cabo Avery!!!

 

[flynfarr]

Aaaiiiirrrrbeeeeaaaaarrrrrr!

 

[Cardinal]

I'll ask this again, what level of protections does the Fly-By-Wire provide? Is it Airbus-esque, i.e., Alpha floor, pitch/roll limits, autotrim, etc? Or is it more like the 777, where the pilot is still allowed to do creative stuff?

Like pulling teeth to get an answere around here sometimes Found a bit of info myself, if anybody's curious: From


[Docket No. NM249; Special Conditions No. 25-250-SC]
Special Conditions: Embraer Model ERJ-170 Series Airplanes;
Electronic Flight Controls (Command Signal Integrity)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-25949.htm

The ERJ-170 airplane will use fly-by-wire (FBW) technology as a
means of sending command and control signals to the control surface
actuators of the rudder, rudder trim, elevator, spoilers, horizontal
stabilizer, and auto speedbrake. The ailerons will be controlled by a
traditional cable linkage to the hydraulic actuators.
The ERJ-170 FBW flight control systems provide two modes of
operation, direct and normal. Direct mode provides an analog link
between pilot commands and control surfaces. In direct mode, flight
control transducers send signals to Actuator Control Electronics units
(ACE). The ACE sends analog command and control signals to the Power
Control Units (PCU), which move the control surface actuators of the
rudder, rudder trim, elevator, spoilers, horizontal stabilizer, and
auto speedbrake.
In normal mode, the rudder, elevator and spoiler command-to-surface
gain schedules are tailored to particular flight conditions to provide
improved control characteristics. These gains are calculated digitally
in the Flight Control Module (FCM) and supplement the direct mode
commands provided by the ACEs.

 

[RP170]

You guys never flew the DO-328-100 did you? Talk about uncomfortable. The only pilot seat that is worse would have to be the F-4 "Phantom" (apparently it was designed by torture specialists to make you feel like you are always falling forward off the seat).

328 may as well have been equipped with a wooden bench for my money.

The 170 doesn't have 145 seats???

I couldn't agree more. Flew the 328 Jet version and it had the most uncomfortable pilot seats. I literally couldn't walk after I finished IOE in that thing. It took a few trips before my body could tolerate the seats. I think the 170's seats are a lot more comfortable than those were. I can't complain about the 170 seats.