24 Aircraft To Be Used In Border Patrol, Training Missions

Embraer confirmed Monday signing the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) for the sale of 24 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft, through a contract that was finalized last year. The single-turboprop, tandem-seat airplanes will be used on border patrol missions and for pilot training. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2009.

"We are honored to expand our relationship with the Ecuadorian Government, which already operates many Embraer aircraft models," said Orlando José Ferreira Neto, Executive Vice President, Defense and Government Market. "The Super Tucano is the ideal aircraft for surveillance and training missions and we are certain it will fully meet the needs of the Ecuadorian Air Force. With this contract, we have now sold a total of 169 Super Tucano planes."

Relations between Embraer and the Ecuadorian Government have become much closer in recent years. TAME Línea Aérea del Ecuador, a state-owned airline, currently operates two Embraer 170 and three Embraer 190 jets. In September 2008, Embraer delivered a 50-seat ERJ-145  to the state-owned Petroecuador company, which uses the aircraft to transport employees between its business units within the country, and in December FAE received a 13-seat Legacy 600 jet.

The deal with FAE includes an extensive Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) package and an advanced Training and Operation Support System (TOSS), covering not only the aircraft, but also ground support stations and a flight simulator.

This is the fourth export contract signed by Embraer to supply Super Tucano aircraft to a Latin American air force. In August 2008, the Brazilian planemaker announced a contract with the Chilean Air Force (FACh) for the sale of 12 aircraft, and at the beginning of 2009 it confirmed the sale of eight planes to the Dominican Republic Air Force. The Super Tucano currently operates in the air forces of Brazil and Colombia, successfully carrying out border patrol and other missions.

FMI: www.embraer.com