GUY NORRIS / SÃO JOSE DOS CAMPOS
New plant at Gavio Peixoto is favourite as work on Brazilian air force order is due to start
Embraer plans to decide in October on a final assembly site for the ALX, a light attack derivative of the EMB-314 Super Tucano that was launched in early August with Brazilian air force orders and options for 100 aircraft.
The Dominican Republic has also ordered 10 ALXs, and sales to at least "five more customers" are imminent, says defence marketing strategy manager Nilton Goncalves.
Embraer sees a market for 400-500 ALXs over the next 5-10 years, he says. Deliveries of the first of 76 firm ordered ALXs to the Brazilian air force are to begin in early 2003.
Although Embraer has developed the ALX and set up initial production jigs using $60 million of company funding, it is growing increasingly concerned about space limitations at its São Jose dos Campos factory near São Paulo. Mushrooming production of ERJ-145 regional jets and development of the ERJ-170/190 family is forcing Embraer to study shifting ALX production to either Gaviao Peixoto, where all Embraer flight testing will be based from September, or at Neiva near Botacutu.
The Gaviao Peixoto site is purpose-built for Embraer and is considered the most likely ALX assembly factory; Neiva specialises in sub-assembly work. The company also builds 20 Ipanema agricultural aircraft a year at Neiva.
Delivery of the first airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) variant of the EMB-145 to the Brazilian air force's Anapolis air base near Goiania in central Brazil, which was scheduled for 19 August, has been delayed. No formal explanation has been given for the hold-up, although Embraer says "there is nothing wrong with the aircraft".
Eight AEW&C aircraft have been ordered for the SIVAM Amazon surveillance system project, while another three have been ordered for remote sensing missions.
Source: Flight International
