The FAA has proposed special certification conditions for Embraer’s Model ERJ 190-400, the certification designation for the E195-E2, and its Embraer Enhanced Takeoff System (E2TS). The system controls pitch through rotation and the initial climb, and manages bank angle, while pilots retain control of the aircraft’s runway path during the ground roll. The proposal sets out performance and handling criteria for certification; it does not approve the system for operational use.
The FAA considers existing transport-aircraft standards insufficient for an automatic takeoff rotation because they were developed around variations in pilot technique. The proposed conditions would instead account for expected deviations in the system and its sensors.
For a takeoff with one engine inoperative, the aircraft’s distance must remain within the applicable aircraft flight manual limit after expected rotation-speed variation is considered. With all engines operating, the takeoff distance could exceed the corresponding published limit by no more than 1%. The proposed conditions would also require that E2TS operation not result in unsafe flight characteristics.
The conditions would form part of the aircraft’s certification basis and define how the FAA assesses takeoff performance and handling when the system performs rotation, a task traditionally carried out by pilots. Comments on the proposal are due by 27 November 2026.