Embraer has begun production of the first Phenom 300 at its US assembly facility in Melbourne, Florida.
The aircraft is scheduled for delivery early next year - one of more than a dozen of the seven-seat aircraft expected to roll out of the site in the southeast of the USA by the end of 2013.
Embraer broke ground on the Melbourne facility in 2010 and began assembly of its entry-level Phenom 100 early last year. To date 14 US-manufactured aircraft have been handed over to customers in the US, Canada and Mexico, says Embraer.
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Melbourne boasts an 7,435m2 (80,000ft2) assembly hangar, a 1,860m2 paint facility and a 5,390m2 customer centre. The plant is designed for a maximum capacity of 96 aircraft a year. says Embraer.
The Brazilian airframer earlier this month began hiring personnel for its US engineering and technology centre, also based at Melbourne. The $24 million, 6,227m2 facility - the company's first engineering centre outside of Brazil - will initially focus on developing Embraer's executive jet interiors. Completion is slated for next year.
Source: Flight International
