Embraer Inaugurates First U.S. Assembly Plant

Embraer has opened its first U.S. aircraft final-assembly plant at Melbourne (Fla.) International Airport. The 150,000-square-foot plant and paint shop is dedicated to manufacturing Phenom 100 very light jets and Phenom 300 light jets, but initially will produce only Phenom 100s since the backlog for them is bigger. Embraer announced the selection of Melbourne in May 2008 and broke ground for the $50 million facility in December that year. The company will soon start to install tooling at the complex, which will employ some 200 people. The Brazilian aircraft manufacturer is also building an adjacent customer center, where buyers from around the world will come to select interiors for their Embraer executive jets. This center, slated for completion in November, will additionally be used to prepare executive jets for deliveries to North American and European customers. Embraer plans to deliver the first U.S.-built Phenom 100 in the fourth quarter.