Embraer is transferring all Phenom assembly to its facility in Melbourne, Fla., over the next year, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer announced today. Its plant in Botucatu, Brazil, will continue to manufacture and export the wing and fuselage for the Phenom 100 and 300.
Since opening the Melbourne facility in February 2011, Embraer has been assembling the light jets in both theU.S. and Brazil—initially at Gaviao Peixoto and then, as it started production of its KC-390 military airlifter there, at São José dos Campos. The plant capacity and workers at the São José dos Campos location are now needed for assembly of the company’s new E2 airliners. In fact, Embraer has already begun assembly of E2prototypes there.
The company’s Melbourne facility has the capacity to assemble up to 96 Phenoms per year, just above the 92 delivered by Embraer last year. However, it is not yet at full-rate production—the 100th U.S.-assembled Phenom was delivered only in late March. Embraer’s Melbourne plant is also currently being expanded to accommodate Legacy 450/500 assembly, which will begin there in the second half of next year.