EMB 120 Brasilia
The Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia is a 30-seat twin-turboprop regional aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118 turboprop engines delivering 1,800 shaft horsepower each. The cabin is 30.8 feet long, 6.9 feet wide, and 5.8 feet tall. Range is 900 nautical miles at 300 knots. All 32 US Part 135 aircraft in the database operate as cargo or government special mission aircraft; none are available for passenger charter.
The fleet concentrates in four specialized operators: Ameriflight LLC (12 aircraft), Berry Aviation (9), Freight Runners Express (9), and Phoenix Air Group (2). Ameriflight is the largest US Part 135 cargo airline by aircraft count and operates the EMB-120 alongside turboprops on freight networks. Berry Aviation serves US Department of Defense contracts and government logistics routes. Freight Runners Express operates cargo routes from Milwaukee throughout the Great Lakes and midwest. Phoenix Air Group provides government special missions including medevac support.
This type does not appear in passenger charter listings.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 30 |
| Cabin length | 30.8 ft |
| Cabin width | 6.9 ft |
| Cabin height | 5.8 ft (stand-up) |
The EMB 120 Brasilia carries a stand-up cabin — 5.8 ft tall, 6.9 ft wide. Adults move around without crouching.
Operator floor plans vary. Some EMB 120 Brasilia cabins are configured with a divan that drops the headcount by one or two seats; confirm the layout with the operator before booking.
Range & performance
| Range | 900 nm |
| Max cruise | 300 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~255 ktas |
With 900 nm of range, the EMB 120 Brasilia is built for short-to-mid US missions. Plan a fuel stop for anything past three hours of cruise.
Distances are real great-circle nautical miles from the selected hub. Angular positions are spaced for readability, not actual bearings. Range envelope assumes no wind and a full passenger load.
Charter cost per hour
Charter the EMB 120 Brasilia at roughly $2,000–$2,500 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Turboprop jets like this carry 6–9 passengers; the per-seat math improves sharply as you fill the cabin.
Rates are flight-hour pricing. Total cost depends on round-trip vs. one-way, positioning, fuel surcharges, and taxes (~15% on top of base). Run the math on your trip →
Safety Record
History
Embraer launched the EMB-120 program in 1979 as a pressurized twin-turboprop for regional airline service, targeting the same commuter market as the SAAB 340 and ATR 42. The prototype flew on July 27, 1983, initially powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW115 engines before the production PW118 was adopted. Brazilian CTA certification followed on May 10, 1985, and FAA Part 25 certification on July 9, 1985. Atlantic Southeast Airlines placed the aircraft in US service in October 1985.
Embraer produced 352 EMB-120 Brasilias through 2001, delivering them to regional carriers across North America, South America, and Europe. An extended-range ER variant, introduced in 1993, became the standard production configuration. By the early 2000s, regional jet competition from the Embraer ERJ-145 and Bombardier CRJ-200 displaced the Brasilia from scheduled passenger routes. The surviving US fleet transitioned to cargo and government special-mission operations, where the 30-seat cabin volume and PW118 maintenance economics suit high-density freight more economically than smaller turboprops.
Ideal For
- This type is not suitable for open passenger charter. All four US Part 135 operators (Ameriflight, Berry Aviation, Freight Runners Express, Phoenix Air Group) operate exclusively in cargo and government special mission roles
- Freight and logistics operators needing a large-cabin turboprop for high-density cargo: the 30.8-foot, 6.9-foot-wide cabin handles freight volumes that smaller turboprops like the Beechcraft 1900 or Grand Caravan cannot
- US government and DoD contractors requiring Part 135-certified twin-engine operations with the reliability record of 352 produced aircraft
- If you need a large-cabin passenger turboprop for charter, consider the King Air 350 (15 seats) or Beechcraft 1900 configured for passenger service
EMB 120 Brasilia vs Turboprop Average
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I charter an EMB-120 Brasilia for a passenger flight?
No. All 32 EMB-120 Brasilias on US Part 135 certificates fly cargo or government special missions. Ameriflight (12 aircraft), Berry Aviation (9), Freight Runners Express (9), and Phoenix Air Group (2) are the complete active US fleet. None offer open passenger charter. For a large-cabin passenger turboprop, the King Air 350 (15 seats, available for charter) is the closest practical alternative.
How many EMB-120s were built?
Embraer produced 352 EMB-120 Brasilia aircraft between 1985 and 2001. The type entered service with Atlantic Southeast Airlines in October 1985 and was delivered to regional carriers across North America, South America, and Europe. An extended-range ER variant introduced in 1993 became the standard production configuration. Production ended in 2001 as Embraer shifted manufacturing focus to the ERJ-145 regional jet family.
Why did the EMB-120 retire from passenger service?
The Embraer ERJ-145 and Bombardier CRJ-200 displaced the Brasilia from scheduled passenger routes in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Jets offered higher cruise speeds (450+ knots vs 300 knots), better passenger experience on commuter routes, and crew qualification compatibility with mainline fleets. Most Brasilias moved to cargo operations where the 30-seat cabin volume and twin-turboprop economics suit freight density that smaller single-engine turboprops cannot match.
What engines power the EMB-120?
Production EMB-120 aircraft use Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118 turboprop engines delivering 1,800 shaft horsepower each. The prototype flew with PW115 engines before the PW118 was adopted for series production. Later production aircraft received the PW118A and PW118B (with FADEC), all producing 1,800 shp. The engines are twin free-turbine turboprops unrelated to the PT6 family despite both being P&WC products.
EMB 120 Brasilias for Charter (32)
Where EMB 120 Brasilias actually fly
ADS-B-tracked flights from the trailing 90 days. Numbers cover aircraft on our charter database; private corporate fleets and operators using PIA registration are not in this count. Methodology →
Top routes
Busiest origins
| Phoenix (KPHX) | 148 |
| Portland (KPDX) | 115 |
| Spokane (KGEG) | 107 |
| Laredo (KLRD) | 98 |
| Medford (KMFR) | 93 |
| Milwaukee (KMKE) | 85 |
| Point Mugu (KNTD) | 62 |
| Las Vegas (KLAS) | 57 |
| Yakima (KYKM) | 54 |
| Pasco (KPSC) | 52 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Ameriflight, LLC | 9 | 773 |
| BERRY AVIATION INC | 8 | 585 |
| Freight Runners Express, Inc. | 6 | 367 |
| PHOENIX AIR GROUP INC | 2 | 134 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the EMB 120 Brasilia on the dimensions that matter most.