Embraer is increasingly looking to move assembly of its business jets closer to the end user.
Its new Melbourne, Florida facility, which includes a customer design centre, is a $50 million investment on its part. It will begin assembling Phenom aircraft, initially only the smaller Phenom 100, by the end of the year.
Eventually the plant will be producing six aircraft each month, although by contrast its Gavião Peixoto site churns out 20 a month.
For Embraer, a manufacturing presence on US soil allows it to offer its North American and European customers a more convenient route to aircraft acquisition.
Chief among the advantages is a vastly reduced ferry flight, cutting cost by a sufficient amount to offset the inevitably higher labour costs in the USA.
The overall price, says Camelier "will work out almost even for the customer", whether it is assembled in the USA or Brazil.
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Another recent announcement is that it will shift production at its Chinese factory from the ERJ-145 regional jet to its super-midsized Legacy 600 and 650 business jets.
It says that the site - a joint venture with state-owned firm AVIC, called HEAI - is staffed to produce between six and nine aircraft a year, but it could accommodate twice that number if there is sufficient demand.
Embraer declines to specify how many Legacy jets Harbin will need to produce each year to break even.
However, it adds: "The final investment figures for establishing the Legacy 600/650 assembly line at HEAI are still under analysis, but it is not anticipated any significant investment is needed, given that HEAI already has the infrastructure and trained workforce in place. Exact data about break even has not been disclosed by HEAI."
China is seen by the company as a country ripe for sales growth in business aviation, particularly in the large-cabin segment occupied by the two larger Legacy jets.
It forecasts a total business jet market in China of 470 aircraft during the next 10 years, representing 7% of the global market or about $14 billion.
Source: Flight Daily News
