| EMBRAER
HAS MILITARY TRANSPORT
AIRCRAFT UNDER STUDY
New
project will perform refueling, medical evacuations,
and other missions
(portuguese text)
São
José dos Campos, April 19, 2007 –
Embraer confirmed, at a press conference held
today, during Latin America Aero & Defense
(LAAD), in Rio de Janeiro, that it has been
studying the possible development of a military
transport aircraft. If it is actually launched,
the EMBRAER C-390, as it is called, will be
the heaviest airplane ever produced by the Company
and will be able to transport up to 19 tons
(41,888 pounds) of cargo.
The new project will incorporate a number of
technological solutions developed for the successful
EMBRAER 190 commercial jet.
As
a medium-sized military transport jet, the EMBRAER
C-390 will have an ample cabin, equipped with
a rear ramp for transporting a wide range of
types of cargo, including wheeled armored vehicles,
and will have the most modern loading and unloading
systems.
The new jet may be refueled in flight, as well
as be used to refuel other aircraft, in flight
and on the ground. The cargo cabin will allow
configurations for transporting the wounded
or sick, on Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions.
The technical advances of the EMBRAER C-390
include fly-by-wire, which lowers the work load
of
pilots, with the resulting increased safety,
and operating on short and unpaved runways,
without the need of ground support.
“Our analyses indicate that there is a
potential market for this type of aircraft worldwide,
especially to substitute older models that will
reach the end of their useful life over the
coming decade,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar,
Embraer’s Executive Vice-President, Defense
and Government Market. “We are now expanding
the studies and looking for the best use of
the technological solutions employed in the
EMBRAER 170/190 family. They will be carefully
adapted to the specific needs of the military
operators. This is a good example of spin-off
and how Embraer’s long-term vision is
focused on customer satisfaction.”
Aguiar added, “Based on Embraer’s
broad experience in leading successful programs,
we have discussed with other specialized mainline
companies jointly sharing the development, which
should follow international best practices for
defense programs.”
In good time,
Embraer will release more information regarding
this study, in order to keep the public informed
on Company decisions |