Embraer C-390 configuration approved in Brazil
A new configuration for the C-390 Millennium developed by Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) High Command has been certified
The full operational capability (FOC) certification for the C-390 Millennium configuration was granted by Brazil’s Institute of Industrial Development and Coordination (IFI) – the government body that oversees the certification of military aircraft.
The new configuration allows the aircraft type to perform a wide range of missions, including troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation (medevac), search and rescue (SAR), aerial firefighting, and humanitarian missions. It can also land on temporary and unpaved runways, including packed earth, soil and gravel, making it ideal for Brazil’s more remote regions.
The FOC confirms that the aircraft can carry out all missions for which it was designed, and that the project meets all requirements outlined by the FAB.
The approval coincided with Embraer’s delivery of a sixth C-390 to the FAB – the first in the new configuration. The remaining five aircraft of this type operated by the FAB will be upgraded to the new configuration.
A platform for multiple mission types
The Embraer C-390 Millennium is a medium sized, twin jet engine-powered military transport aircraft that is capable of carrying a maximum take-off weight of 26,000kg, and can fly at a cruise speed of 870km/h. Since entering operation with FAB in 2019, the C-390 fleet has accumulated over 8,200 flight hours.
“This certificate places the C-390 in a select group of aircraft in the world,” said Bosco da Costa Jr, President and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security. “It is a unique moment in Embraer's history. Air forces around the world are focused on matching their ever-evolving operational needs with their budgets, seeking a platform that can perform multiple missions, recognizing that today's choice will affect their operational capabilities tomorrow.”
Embraer previously completed flight certification tests of a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS II) for the C-390 in September 2022.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector!