In 1709, Bartolomeu de Gusmão began Brazil's contributions to the aeronautical world by creating the hot air balloon. As early as 1901, with airship number 6, Santos Dumont made it around the Eiffel Tower during the first controlled flight in history. About five years later, on October 23, 1906, before more than a thousand spectators, he flew the 14-Bis - the first heavier-than-air aircraft to take off by its own means. Afterwards, he designed and brought his greatest work to life, the Demoiselle. Beyond inventing products, the Brazilian visionary gave wings to the dream of flying.
Years later, in 1950, the Brazilian Government inaugurated ITA - Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica - with a focus on the training of aeronautical engineers. In 1959, a restless and visionary young man became a student. Ozires Silva graduated as an aeronautical engineer in 1962 and began to participate (and, subsequently, coordinate) in the development of an aircraft project that would rescue regional aviation in the country.
With its first successful flight in 1968, the Bandeirante gained such acceptance that it required a factory for serial production. Thus, Embraer was born.
Convinced of the market potential associated with regional aviation and having successful experiences with the prototype, the team then set out on a new challenge: to establish serial production for the Banderiante. After attempts with the private sector, the team, led by Ozires Silva, worked with the government to create a mixed capital company, with initial capitalization from the state.
On August 19, 1969, Embraer was formalized by Legal Decree. Activities began on January 2, 1970, at the address which exists to this day (Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 2170 in São José dos Campos - SP). In order to make the sale of the Bandeirante viable, Embraer introduced several modifications to the model. As a result, the code for the aircraft became EMB 110, leaving "EMB 100" only for the first three prototypes.
Throughout the 1970s, the Bandeirante gained prominence in the market and ripped through the skies across the four corners of the planet. Simultaneously, Embraer brought innovative solutions to its first customers in the agricultural, commercial and executive aviation segments. Among the aircraft presented were the Ipanema, the Xavante and the Xingu, in addition to a line assembled in partnership with the American company Piper.
After its first 10 years of life, Embraer gained maturity and altitude. The Bandeirante had become a great protagonist of global regional aviation, including in the competitive US market.
In the 1980s, new aircraft were introduced, specifically targeting the commercial and defense aviation markets. In this niche, Embraer stood out by establishing a partnership with the Italian companies, Aeritália (today Alenia) and Macchi (today Aermacchi), to develop their first fighter jet, the AMX. Embraer also brought the EMB 312 Tucano to life - a training turboprop that combined equivalent performance with lower costs compared to the jet models of the time.
In the commercial segment, Embraer introduced the EMB 120 Brasilia, a pressurized model that integrated the most advanced technologies available. It was considered the most utilized regional aircraft in the world, exceeding the mark of 350 units operated by 26 airlines in 14 countries.
In the early 1990s, Embraer partnered with FAMA (Fábrica Argentina de Material Aeroespacial) to invest in a highly innovative project. With above-average performance, the CBA 123 Vector was quiet and fast. However, demanding high investments from partners and facing an unfavorable international economic scenario, the turboprop did not meet the company’s expectations in terms of market.
In 1994, after investing in the CBA 123 project, Embraer suffered financial difficulties. Extensive changes were necessary. Ozires Silva returned to the company to lead it through privatization, which was concluded at the end of that year.
In the midst of this troubled situation, Embraer engineers worked on a new aircraft. They studied the regional aviation market thoroughly and knew this new model was capable of meeting market needs. The ERJ 145 was a twin-engine, narrow-body jet for 37-50 passengers. Aligned with market demands, the aircraft was so successful, it gave rise to a complete family of Embraer Regional Jets - ERJ 135, ERJ 140, ERJ 145 and ERJ 145XR.
The success of the ERJ family - Embraer Regional Jets - gave new impetus to the company. In the early 2000s, the E-Jets program was announced (commercial jets with capacity for between 70 and 130 passengers) and Embraer intensified its participation in the executive jets segment. The Legacy and Phenom families were developed, in addition to the Lineage 1000E.
Between 2000 and 2010, the E-Jets fleet reinforced Embraer's global leadership position in the regional commercial aviation segment, while the Phenom 300 became the best-selling executive aircraft in the world.
Since 2009, the KC-390 (a multi-mission military freighter developed with the Brazilian Air Force), the E-Jets E2 family (the quietest and most efficient small narrowbody jets in the world), and the Praetor family of executive jets were all launched.
Embraer still challenges convention today. Encouraging the disruptive dynamics of innovation, the company is committed to developing an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle), an alternative designed to revolutionize urban mobility by increasing access to air transport within cities.
Per its innovative DNA, Embraer is committed to overcoming the challenges of the future. Building, through creative engineering, a legacy whose heir will be humanity itself.
Throughout its fantastic journey, Embraer had numerous facilitators who enabled it to become one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the world. The combination of Brazilian creative engineering and educational excellence in the training of aeronautical engineers is an important differentiator.
In 2002, Embraer inaugurated Colégio Juarez Wanderley as a way to repay some of the contributions education has made to the journey of the company. Dedicated to introducing innovative teaching methodologies and providing an excellent education for high school students in São José dos Campos, the institution has become a national reference. Today, it is one of the best ranked educational institutions on the National High School Exam.
Between 2002 and 2007, Embraer also expanded its global presence, taking control of OGMA in Portugal, as well as continuing the development of the E-Jets program, introducing the E170, E175, E190 and E195 aircraft. Finally, it intensified its participation in the executive jets market, with the Phenom family.
In 2008, Embraer delivered the world's best-selling light executive jet (now for seven consecutive years), the Phenom 300. The following year, it launched the KC-390 program, established in partnership with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), and focused on the development of this multi-mission military cargo aircraft. The first units are scheduled to be delivered to FAB in 2019.
At the beginning of this decade, Embraer expanded internationally, inaugurating the Melbourne, Florida unit (United States) in 2011, focused on final assembly of the Phenoms, and the Jacksonville, Florida unit (United States) in 2013, focused on final assembly of the A-29 Super Tucano.
The newest members of the Legacy family were also launched, including the 450, 500 and 650. In 2012, Visiona was announced - a partnership between Embraer, Telebras and the Federal Government - focused on the development of the first Brazilian geostationary satellite. In 2013, the second Embraer High School was inaugurated, Colégio Brigadeiro Casimiro Montenegro, in Botucatu, emphasizing Embraer’s participation in education.
In this decade, Embraer launched the E2 program, the quietest and most efficient commercial aircraft, with up to 150 seats, in the world. Since then, the E190-E2 (in 2018) has been delivered to launch customer Wideroe of Norway.
In 2015, the Ipanema 203 was launched. This is a new version of the agricultural aircraft that has been produced by Embraer since the 1970s. The Ipanema 203 is the only aircraft in the world, sold in series, fueled by ethanol.
Even beyond the world of aviation, Embraer prepares itself daily for the future. Focusing its efforts on disruptive innovation, the company created EmbraerX, with outposts in Silicon Valley and Boston, in 2017. EmbraerX is committed to revolutionizing urban air mobility in large cities by introducing electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs).
Arraste para mover
- Ozires Silva
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