Commuter-level carriers seeking upgrades to 19-seat equipment from small piston-engined craft like Cessnas in the 1960s and 1970s would usually choose the Beech 99 (unpressurized) or Swearingen Metroliner (pressurized). As this end of the market exploded leading up to U.S. airline deregulation, additional aircraft manufacturers jumped into the competition with diverse options.
The Brazilian company EMBRAER made its debut on the world airline stage with its EMB-110 “Bandeirante” in 1972 and initial service in April 1973, after a development program starting in 1965. This twin-turboprop, unpressurized ship would seat 15 to 21 passengers depending on configuration, was inexpensive to purchase and operate, famous for its durability, and used the ubiquitous Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine – meaning spare parts were widely available.
498 Bandeirantes were ultimately delivered from 1968 through 1990, serving as civil air transports, and military utility and patrol craft. Numerous examples would find their way into the Midwest and Southern U.S., with four examples being used by Michigan-based Simmons Airlines on Republic Express and later Northwest Airlink service. None of the Simmons EMB fleet appears to have been painted in either Republic or NWA colors, but identifying stickers were applied as seen below.
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