SERVICE & SUPPORT

FLIGHT OPERATIONS

NEWSLETTER
#57/2017 AN EMBRAER FLIGHT OPERATIONS ENGINEERING & SUPPORT PUBLICATION

Non-approved Altimeter
eQRH Binder Brackets Miscompare
SERVICE & SUPPORT
eQRH - All Operational Procedures at the tip of your fingers
what is the eQRH?
For airlines seeking a smart electronic
checklist solution, the eQRH is a tablet
app for use in the cockpit. It optimizes
the accomplishment of normal and
emergency procedures and reduces the
pilot’s workload. Differently from PDF
files with links, the eQRH is interactive
and presents the actions applicable to
each failure scenario using a direct and
assertive approach.
Certain emergency/abnormal procedures
require an analysis of the landing distance
due to different airplane approach
eQRH Features
configurations. The eQRH has a calculator Landing performance
that pops up during the procedure at the assessment for
proper time. This brings the necessary emergency scenarios
data for the pilots and avoids manual
computation during the high workload
phases of the flight.
Easy to recall the status of
As the user defines the inputs and inserts all procedures and
them on the left-hand side of the eQRH performance calculations.
calculator, the RUN button becomes
available. The analysis outputs are shown
on the right-hand side of the eQRH
calculator. Interface designed to
improve Pilot’s usability
The idea is to leave the performance
calculation to the eQRH, thereby relieving
the pilot’s workload. The landing speeds
and landing distances are automatically Timer for time constraint
calculated by the eQRH. No further steps
calculations by the pilot are required.
SERVICE & SUPPORT

Single procedures
workflow

Easy to update

Smart Procedures search

• Specifically designed for the use in the cockpit.

• Reduced number of inputs to find and accomplish a procedure.

• Human-centered design: reduces workload.

• The app only shows the steps applicable to the pilot’s choice.

• Inputs out of operational range are shown in red to alert the pilot.

• All the steps necessary to cope with one emergency scenario within the same workflow.
SERVICE & SUPPORT

Use of non-approved binder brackets

on Embraer aircraft

By Carlos Eduardo B. Martinez

Air Safety Investigator

respective manufacturers facilities, with

On March 18th, 2011, at 00:09 GMT,
an ERJ 145 aircraft, serial number 145-
927, registered as N11187, experienced
a runway excursion during landing at
Akron-Canton Airport (ICAO code:
KCAK) at Canton, Ohio, USA.
None of the 43 passengers and 3
crewmembers onboard the aircraft
were injured. The aircraft sustained
representatives from the parties involved
in the investigation. The results indicated
“no anomalies that would have precluded
normal operation”.
The CVR (cockpit voice recorder)
transcript, available at the NTSB public
docket, indicates that a “sound of thunk”
was recorded soon after touchdown,
followed by a chime consistent with a
“Master Caution” aural warning. #1 Original chart holder for ERJ 145 family

minor damage. The NTSB opened the

investigation CEN11IA234 into this
event.
According to the NTSB Final Report,
the nosewheel steering system
components were tested at their
The NTSB report mentions that the pilot
in the left seat used a binder bracket to
hold his plate book (also commonly called
a chart binder). Also, it was identified that
his plate book slid off the binder bracket
during landing.
The picture #1 shows the original chart
holder for the ERJ 145 family. The picture
#2 shows the installation of a generic
binder bracket, clipped to the original
chart holder and the picture #3, a chart
book placed on the generic binder bracket.
SERVICE & SUPPORT

The picture #2 shows that one binder
bracket attach point, next to the left
(captain’s) side window, is located
directly above and close to the nosewheel
steering handle. Although there is no
sufficient evidence to conclude that the
steering handle was activated during the
N11187 event, the NTSB report states that
“it is possible that the weight of a book
engaged the tiller”.
Pursuant to the NTSB Safety Recommen-
dation A-17-3, Embraer recommends that
ERJ 145 and E-Jets family operators do
not install nor use binder brackets not ap-
proved by the local competent aviation
authority.

The NTSB also found that the use of binder

#2 Generic binder bracket clipped to
the original chart holder
brackets is a widespread practice among
ERJ 145 pilots. Additionally, Embraer found
evidences that similar binder brackets are
available also for the E-Jets family.

It is important to highlight that those

binder brackets were neither developed
nor supplied by Embraer. Also, at the time
of this publication, Embraer had no knowl-
edge about any binder bracket or similar
device approved by a certification author-
ity for the ERJ 145 or E-Jets family.

In a letter to Embraer on February 1st, 2017

#3 Generic binder bracket clipped to the
original chart holder with chart book
the NTSB expressed the concern about
the possibility of a chart binder becoming
dislodged from the binder brackets, which
may result in an inadvertent activation of
the steering handwheel in the ERJ 145.
SERVICE & SUPPORT
Altimeter Miscompare Tolerances
By Fabiano Cypel
Instructor Pilot
Aviation rules and procedures evolve so
fast nowadays that require a certain level
of attention on how it can affect your flight
is required. Reduced vertical separation,
optimized lateral paths and precision like
approaches increase the importance of
correct procedures dealing with one of
the oldest instruments in aviation but still
a very important one: your altimeter.
The differences between the readings
with the airplane on the ground or in
flight can occur due a number of reasons.
These differences may vary with altitude,
airspeed and airplane configuration.
Additional factors such as measurement
errors, installation deviations, internal/
=
skin waviness distortions and airplane
sideslip condition can influence the data
comparison between them. As long as the
miscompare is within a certain tolerance,
it is acceptable.
Your aircraft is monitoring and compar-
ing both primary altimeters all the time.
If they differ by more than 200ft you
will see an amber flag ALT on your PFD.
This is also the maximum difference be-
tween both altimeters in RVSM airspace.
If the difference is not big enough to trig-
ger the comparison monitor but you still
think that something is not quite right,
the AOM brings a task called Altimeters
Miscompare Tolerances. It is important
to mention that the referenced values are
not considered a limitation, but a way to
avoid unnecessary reports that which may
lead to maintenance burden and non-fault
findings.
It is very important to observe how the
AOM instructs the crew to evaluate the
difference between the instruments.
Large speed variation, turns or climb and
descends can invalidate the test results.
You need to keep straight and level flight
at stabilized speed and altitude for at least
15 seconds preferably with the autopilot
engaged.
SERVICE & SUPPORT

If you fly an ERJ 135/140/145 family than the values shown in the table. This There is news on the technical side for the
please refer to the table below: will help maintenance personnel. E-jets family. A new routine on the CMC
will compare all ADS systems and provide
Maximum If you are flying the E-Jets please pay maintenance personnel with a more
Maximum Difference attention to a new table that has been precise troubleshooting and less time
Difference Between Pilot
Altitude Between Pilot and Copilot published or is going to be on your next consuming work regarding the altitude
(ft) and Copilot Altimeter and AOM revision. Values have been recently split issue. It will be available on Load 25.7
Altimeter Standby
(ft) Altimeter revisited by Embraer engineering, so (Epic FMS) and Load 27.2 (NG FMS).
(ft)
0 50 150

60
Maximum Difference
5000 200
Between Altitudes
10000 60 280
Airplane Altitude ADS 1 to ADS2
15000 70 320
ADS 1 to ADS 3/IESS
20000 70 500
ADS 2 to ADS 3/IESS
25000 100 600 -2000 ft up to 4999 ft 80 ft
30000 120 750 5000 ft up to 9999 ft 100 ft
35000 150 750 10000 ft up to 14999 ft 130 ft
37000 160 750 15000 ft up to 19999 ft 150 ft
39000 180 800 20000 ft up to 41000 ft 180 ft

There is one value to compare between check it out. Again, only differences
the primary altimeters and another one greater than the values in the table should
to compare with the standby. The crew be reported by the crew, so maintenance
should report only the differences greater personnel can verify them.
Embraer S.A.
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 2170/ 12227-901 - São José dos Campos - São Paulo - Brasil/(+55 12) 3927-1706 - opereng@embraer.com.br