Embraer expands Florida facility

Embraer Melbourne Legacy ceremonyy

Embraer has broken ground on its Legacy 500 and Legacy 450 assembly complex in Melbourne, Florida.

Frederico Fleury Curado , president and CEO of Embraer, says: “With the support of Governor [Rick] Scott together with his team at Enterprise Florida, the Space Coast Economic Development Commission, Brevard County, the City of Melbourne, and the Melbourne Airport Authority, we are doubling the size of our Executive Jets campus in the US with the addition of these game changing aircraft assembly facilities to the already operational Phenom assembly line.”

“Furthermore, our recently inaugurated Embraer Engineering and Technology Center, the first engineering center outside Brazil, shows the strong level of commitment to our customers as well as our faith in this remarkable community,” Curado adds.

The new facility is expected to be operational by 2016. It will feature four new buildings: an assembly hangar, a paint facility, a completion centre and flight preparation facility, and a new delivery centre.

Marco Tulio Pellegrini, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, says: “Surpassing all original expectations during certification tests, the clean sheet design Legacy 500 and Legacy 450 represent a new, game changing generation of business aircraft. With this state-of-art facility at the heart of an important aeronautical center in the region and the engagement of all stakeholders, we are very confident in the future of these programmes.”

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Governor Scott says: “Embraer’s creation of 600 jobs is great news for Melbourne families and the surrounding community. With the creation of 643,100 jobs since December 2010, it’s important that we remain focused on continuing Florida’s economic momentum. By removing the sales tax on manufacturing equipment, Florida’s businesses, like Embraer, will have a more competitive advantage over other states and countries, which will help businesses create more jobs for families.”

“With addition of the Legacy final assembly and delivery program, Embraer will double their presence at Melbourne International Airport (MLB) by 2016,” said Greg Donovan, Melbourne International Airport Director. “The airport team is committed to an on-time aircraft rollout that is under budget. As a leading aircraft manufacturer, Embraer values the distinct advantages of our airport infrastructure and will benefit from the competitive advantages of being located in Florida’s Space Coast. Embraer’s success exemplifies why MLB is the nation’s fastest growing aerospace and aviation manufacturing centre.”