Gallery Update: Chasing an Envoy Air ERJ-135 in Provo

Last night, I noticed on Flightradar24.com that an Envoy Air flight was scheduled to fly into Provo this morning. I made a mental note of it and double checked on FlightAware this morning and it was confirmed; an Envoy Air Embraer Regional Jet was inbound to Provo! Considering that I haven't photographed a member of the ERJ-145 family (an ERJ-140 to be exact!) in airline colors nor an Envoy Air jet before, I just knew I had to jump at this opportunity.

Envoy Air, formerly known as American Eagle Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group responsible for feeding the American Airlines route network under the American Eagle brand along with other regional carriers. The regional affiliate was established on January 14, 2014 when American Airlines Group officially announced the re-branding of its American Eagle subsidiary as Envoy. American Eagle went from a regional airline name to just a brand. Aircraft operated by American Eagle continued to operate under the current American Eagle branding, but an "Operated by Envoy Air" label was added, as is the case when contractors fly American Eagle branded aircraft. The reason behind the re-brand was to avoid confusion when American Airlines announced that other regional carriers would operate on behalf of American as a result of the mainline carrier going into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reorganization in late-2011. The Envoy name was a reincarnation of the now-defunct Envoy Class of seating on US Airways aircraft.

The reason behind today's Envoy flight into Provo was because of the Aviation Science program at Utah Valley University; the flight school announced a new bridge program with Envoy Air earlier this month. And apparently, the agreement was signed today, hence the appearance of an Envoy ERJ at Provo to commemorate the new partnership. After I photographed the arriving Envoy Air ERJ-140 this morning, I headed down to Spanish Fork to go flying with my instructor. After the flight, I returned to the Provo Airport to catch the same ERJ on its departure flight.

Provo (PVU) 42

Preview:

Envoy Air (d/b/a American Eagle) Embraer EMB-135KL ERJ-140LR (N856AE) on short final for 13 arriving from Dallas/Fort Worth as ENY9800. My first time photographing Envoy Air and first time photographing an ERJ-140!

Allegiant Air McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (N429NV) on short final for 13 arriving from Los Angeles as AAY344. Another "Mad Dog" equipment substitution in lieu of an Airbus for Provo this morning!

N856AE taxiing on taxiway A for departure back to Dallas/Fort Worth as ENY9801 after spending several hours with Utah Valley University Aviation.

Face-to-face with the ERJ-140!  The ERJ-145 family is unique because it uses the same fuselage cross-section and the same nose for the EMB-120 Brasilia turboprop, which proved to be effective in reducing development costs. The ERJ even shares a 75% parts commonality with its turboprop predecessor.

Piper PA-23-250 Aztec (N18MW) on short final for 13 arriving from Albuquerque.

ENY9801 taking 13 for departure to Dallas/Fort Worth. As a regional jet, passengers often preferred the ERJ over the Canadian CRJ mainly because of the three abreast (2+1) seating configuration and larger windows. The ERJ-140 seats 44 passengers.