It’s been a wild ride for Bombardier and Embraer over the past few months. Both have seen better times, yet, neither have faltered. So this begs the question: Bombardier vs Embraer?
As with many comparisons, this brings up a huge uproar in debate. This is especially so with aircraft manufacturer debates such as this and Airbus vs Boeing debates too!
Before we can break down the two manufacturers, we must first go over some brief history first!
Bombardier
Bombardier Aerospace is owned by Bombardier, Inc. a Canadian international manufacturing company.
Bombardier Aerospace was started in 1986, when Bombardier acquired Canadair from the Canadian government. Bombardier subsequently used its deep pockets to buy several other manufacturers including:
- Short Brothers (1989)
- Learjet (1990)
- De Havilland Canada (1992)
Primarily, the manufacturer produced small regional jetliners and private jets intended to be used by the world’s largest corporations.
However, the company often struggled financially, due to being quite profitable (with Bombardier, Inc. often taking more profit from its aviation division and investing it in their less profitable subsidiaries!)
Over time, due to the lack of investment in R&D, production became less and less efficient. This caused Bombardier to lack behind its competitors.
As a result, Bombardier was nearing bankruptcy, when Airbus bought 50.1% of the CSeries program. In 2020, Bombardier sold its remaining stake in the CSeries to Airbus, who are now the primary owners of the CSeries program.
Embraer
Although smaller attempts had been made by the Brazilian government throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s, nothing had come of it. However, in 1969, Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica was founded.
The company went by Embraer for simplicity reasons.
The Brazilian government played a major role in the early history of Embraer, having been the sole manufacturer in the country.
However, during the late 1990’s, Brazil was going through financial difficulties, and needed to raise funds. As such, they chose to privatize Embraer in December 1997.
The new owners took the company public, and shored it up financially. However, in 2018, in response to the Airbus-Bombardier CSeries deal, Embraer launched a joint venture with Boeing.
Part of this joint venture would allow Boeing to buy a majority (80%) stake in Embraer’s commercial aircraft division. Effectively giving Boeing control of the commercial regional jet market!
Bombardier vs Embraer
Before we can truly decide which aircraft manufacturer is better, we must first look at their most well known aircraft…
E-Jet (ERJ) family vs CRJ family
Despite neither truly being owned by Embraer or Bombardier anymore, both families were principally designed by their respective manufacturers!
The E-Jet family is Embraer’s principle line of regional jets. Some notable members of the family include:
- E170
- E175
- E190
- E195
- Lineage 1000
The CRJ (Canadair Regional Jet) family is Bombardier’s principle line of regional jets. Some notable members include:
Both families of jets serve a similar purpose, often being employed on the same routes. In America, the families often compete on routes like Macon, Georgia, to Brownsville, Texas.
Legacy/Praetor family vs Challenger family
The Legacy/Praetor family is Embraer’s principle family of business jets. Many US Fortune 500 companies use the Legacy/Praetor family of jets. However, it is a favored jet for US entrepreneurs and businessmen!
The Challenger family, however, is used more by executive jet divisions of major airlines (such as Qatar Executive) as well as air charter companies!
As a result of this, whilst on paper, the two jets compete with one another, truly, they do not.
With that being said, occasionally, private businesses or businessmen do have to choose between a jet from the Challenger or the Legacy family.
EMB Tucano vs Shorts Tucano
Yes, these are both the same aircraft. It’s just that one is manufactured under the license of the other. Can you guess which?
The EMB Tucano was the first true Tucano, being employed by the Brazilian Air Force as a trainer for fast jet pilots. The trainer was very popular among pilot trainees, and were often taken to air shows (such as RIAT).
As such, these trainers became well known around the world, and were heavily exported. Even the RAF became interested in the trainer aircraft, however, refused to buy from a Brazilian manufacturer due to political tensions.
As a result, Shorts Brothers (an Irish manufacturer) offered to manufacture the aircraft under license from Embraer. As part of the deal, Shorts would alter the aircraft to fit strict RAF criteria, which Embraer agreed to.
As such, the RAF became the most famous users of Tucanos. Remember, Shorts was bought out by Bombardier in 1989
Having flown in both of them during my time in the military (a military exchange scheme done between friendly air forces!) I can say that the Shorts Tucano certainly handles more like a fast jet, although the EMB Tucano is more sturdy!
Bombardier vs Embraer : Who truly wins?
As always, there is no real answer. Some will argue that Bombardier is a better manufacturer, others will argue that Embraer is the better manufacturer.
Some may even argue that neither are worthy of that, and in fact Dassault or some other manufacturer in fact wins!
However, personally, I believe that Embraer wins the Bombardier vs Embraer debate simply from a pilots point of view! Embraer aircraft are so much smoother than Bombardier ones!
I know of other pilots who have flown Embraer and Bombardier aircraft (different to the two Tucanos I have flown!) and will agree with me!
However, a friend of mine (former American Eagle captain) does disagree with me, stating:
The Embraer has a horrible yoke, that I can’t forgive. Perhaps it’s just the way I fly, but there’s just something that is truly horrendous for me about the way an Embraer handles!
For me, the CRJ 900 is the best Bombardier aircraft I have ever flown!
Some Avgeeks have also weighed in on this, being as, if not more argumentative as when I asked the question of Airbus vs Boeing?!
For many Avgeeks however, when I asked them “Bombardier vs Embraer?” Bombardier was preferred, however, I’d be lying if I said that there wasn’t a small group of Avgeeks who love Embraer aircraft!
What do you think? Bombardier vs Embraer? Tell me in the comments!
Featured image courtesy of Tim Bounds via Flickr.
I’m a biz av mechanic. I’ve worked on Hawkers, Learjets, Gulfstreams, Falcons, Cessnas, etc. My top two Mfr’s are Bombardier & Embraer. Dassault is a close third. In my opinion, it’s a very close call. However, I lean towards Bombardier. I have a few reasons. Embraer has focused on streamlining MX to keep downtime to a minimum. I love that! It makes my job easier. Parts for the EMB seem to be harder/take longer to get. Engineering can be a real pain ( things get lost in translation from Portuguese to English). Where as mechanically they’ve streamlined MX. Their interiors are cheap and poorly designed. It sounds silly. However, the person paying for the whole show usually sits in the RH #2 seat. The entire plane can be 110% Tip Top…… If they can’t recline their seat….. You’re the biggest POS in the world. Trying to explain composite materials, weight savings, burn certifications, rigging cables in a pax seat, etc. It does no good.
Apparently, we’re just a bunch of dummies.