Empresa Brasiliera de Aeronautica SA was founded in
August 1969 and began operations in January 1970 to
promote the Brazilian industry. In August 1974 signed cooperative
agreement with Piper Aircraft Corporation, and
in 1975 with Northrop. Work on Tiger II components started
1976. Successful production of the Bandeirante twin-turboprop
light transport (first flown October 1968) ended in
1994. Other early production programmes included the
pressurized EMB-121
EMB-110/111 Bandeirante
Xingu transport, EMB-111A Patrulha
for maritime surveillance, and Xavante (license-built Italian
Aermacchi jet trainer and attack aircraft). Privatization
completed in December 1994, with the Brazilian Federal
Government retaining some 15 per cent of capital. Production
in 1999 included the EMB-312 Tucano turboprop
trainer (first flown August 1980), EMB-314 Super Tucano
(first flown May 1993) and ALX special application version,
EMB-120 Brasilia regional transport (first flown 1983),
ERJ135 37-passenger regional jet (first flown July 1998),
ERJ145 50-seat regional jet (first flown August 1995), and
surveillance versions of the ERJ145. International program
is AMX combat aircraft with Aermacchi and Alenia of Italy.
Divisions of EMBRAER include Industria Aeronautica Neiva
SA(q.v.).
