The KC-390’s first flight in February 2015 (Image: Embraer)
Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has said it still plans to deliver the first KC-390 military transport jet to the Brazilian Air Force by the end of this year, despite an incident which damaged a prototype during testing on May 5.
The incident, which was reported to the Brazilian Air Force’s aeronautical accidents investigation and prevention bureau, occurred during ground tests with KC-390 prototype 001 at Embraer’s Gavião Peixoto facility.
The prototype left the runway during the certification tests and the crew deplaned safely and without injury. The incident has resulted in “extensive damage” on each of the three landing gears of the aircraft and damage to the structure of the fuselage, Embraer said in a statement.
Embraer said it is evaluating the planning schedule for the continuation of the certification tests and may transfer some of the tests to prototype 002 and to the first series of KC-390, which are in an advanced state of assembly.
The company has started investigations into the causes of the incident.
May 11, 2018