Manufacturer Rolls Out Jet at Its Main Assembly Facility

On Monday, Embraer opened the gates of its main Brazilian manufacturing facility in Sao Jose dos Campos to roll out the EMBRAER 190, the largest commercial airplane ever manufactured in Brazil.

The rollout ceremony was attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Sao Paulo State Governor Geraldo Alckmin, cabinet ministers, customers, partners and suppliers, Brazilian and international news media as well as Embraer employees.

The EMBRAER 190 seats 100 passengers at a generous four-abreast 32-inch pitch cabin -- or up to 108 in a higher density configuration at 31-inch pitch. Embraer's newest airliner has already attracted 100 firm orders from launch customer JetBlue Airways, and another 10 firm orders from an undisclosed customer, in addition to 150 options. Furthermore, late last year Embraer and Air Canada signed a commercial proposal for 45 EMBRAER 190 jets with options on an additional 45.

"The rollout of the EMBRAER 190 is an important occasion for Embraer, our customers, our partners and suppliers. This companywide celebration marks completion of a new phase in the development of the EMBRAER 170/190 family," said Mauricio Botelho, President and CEO of Embraer. "The development and production of the EMBRAER 170/190 family has been a total team effort by the world's leading aerospace companies. This rollout is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all the industrial teams involved in the design of this product."

The EMBRAER 190 is being prepared for its maiden flight, expected to take place in the coming weeks following the rollout ceremony. The first aircraft, S/N 0001, will be joined by three additional aircraft for the flight test and certification campaign, which shall be complete in the third quarter of 2005, immediately followed by the first deliveries to JetBlue Airways.

"We are confident that the EMBRAER 190 will fit well with our strategy to expand into markets still lacking high-quality, low-fare airline service in the United States," said David Neeleman, CEO of JetBlue Airways. 

FMI:  www.embraer.com