Even as Embraer Executive Jets celebrated a record commercial and business aircraft order backlog and continued strong delivery numbers through the third quarter of this year, president and CEO Marco Túlio Pellegrini also lamented what he sees as lagging growth in sales figures across the segment.
“To have a very positive [business aviation] market, all the gears need to be in synch,” Pellegrini said. “Some [factors] are positive, such as corporate profits, stock markets, infrastructure and number of millionaires. Some aren’t as strong as we’d like to see. And, there’s one roadblock that is holding the market back: a willingness to invest.”
Embraer (Booth 5638, static display) isn’t lacking for new airplanes to build, with the company delivering 64 Legacy, Lineage and Phenom aircraft so far this year. The Phenom 300 was the most-delivered light business jet in 2013 and appears on track to make a claim on that title in 2014 as well. The Legacy 500 recently gained its Brazilian certification, with approvals by FAA and EASA “imminent,” according to Pellegrini, and the Legacy 450 is on track to join its larger sibling on the market next year. The Legacy 450 made its public debut here at the NBAA static display.
Combined with Embraer’s commercial airline and military business, the company has an overall order backlog of $22.1 billion, the highest in its history. Embraer forecasts demand for 9,250 business aircraft worldwide through 2024, a market valued at $265 billion in today’s dollars.
The Brazilian manufacturer also noted its expanded presence on the ground in North America, specifically in Florida. Earlier this month, Embraer broke ground on a new production facility for the Legacy 500 and 450, which at 236,000 sq ft will more than double the size of the company’s existing Phenom 100 and 300 assembly line at Melbourne International Airport and bring 600 new jobs to the area.
A production Legacy 500 is among the Embraer products on static display at this year’s convention, along with the prototype Legacy 450.
