Phenom plant continues to take shape in Florida
Embraer began site preparation last month at Melbourne (Fla.) International Airport for a $51 million aircraft assembly and delivery center.

Embraer began site preparation last month at Melbourne (Fla.) International Airport for a $51 million aircraft assembly and delivery center. A ceremonial ground-breaking was held for the 150,000-sq-ft plant in January, and its design received governmental approvals in May.

Construction begins even as Embraer has reduced its annual research-and-development budget by $100 million and plans to eliminate 20 percent of its workforce, mainly in response in a dramatic drop in demand for its commercial aircraft. During the second quarter of this year, the OEM delivered 56 aircraft–35 regional airliners and 21 executive jets (including 15 Phenom 100s). Its $8 million, 30-year lease on 25 acres–with an option for 70 more–at Melbourne came with a lot of incentives, including waiver of the first year’s lease payment.

Loading…