Embraer has presented a proposal to the Turkish government to sell between 36 and 55 Super Tucano trainer aircraft. The proposal submitted is associated with a technology transfer and industrial participation program involving local defense companies. Embraer’s hopes that its experience in international cooperation programs will be fundamental in this competition.

The company’s partnerships, including under license production and technology transfer programs in Egypt (Egyptian Air Force) and Northern Ireland (Royal Air Force and other export countries) involving the EMB 312 Tucano (Super Tucano’s predecessor), resulted in more than 250 units produced outside of Brazil. The EMB 312 Tucano fleet, which consists of more than 650 aircraft, is in operation with 17 air forces and has surpassed over one  million flight hours since entering into service.

In the commercial aviation market, Embraer is also assembling the well known ERJ 145 regional jet in China through a joint venture in that country.

“We are very confident that our comprehensive and focused proposal will comply with the Turkish government requirements. Embraer’s previous experience in this kind of program is remarkable and has helped us to better structure our proposal, including an outstanding level of local industry participation and technology transfer. The Super Tucano is proving its excellence for Brazilian Air Force pilots training and we strongly believe that the product was conceived with the maturity required by the military market,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, Embraer Executive Vice-President, Defense and Government Market.

A total of 41 Super Tucano aircraft have been delivered so far to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which ordered 99 units. The Super Tucano is being operated out of four bases in Brazil for pilot training and operational missions.

In the Natal Air Force Base located in the northeast of the country, the Super Tucano has been used to train a new group of Brazilian Air Force fighter pilots since August 2004. A fleet of 24 Super Tucanos is operating at this air force base and have logged over 10,000 flight hours. Average mission completion rate is 99.7 percent. By the end of this year, the second group of Super Tucano graduate fighter pilot officers will be assigned to the operational squadrons deployed in the Amazon region.

The Colombian Air Force (FAC), which ordered 25 Super Tucanos in 2005, will take delivery of its first aircraft by the end of 2006. The sale to Colombia marked the first international agreement involving Super Tucano trainers.

FMI: www.embraer.com