Embraer Illuminates Plans for Aviation’s ‘Future Ecosystem’

At a press conference addressing big sustainability questions at NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition on Monday, Embraer Executive Jets president and CEO Michael Almafitano gave an energizing overview of the company’s broad plan to lead the development of the “future ecosystem” for aviation, calling it the company’s “fiduciary responsibility” as well as the right thing to do from a corporate ethics standpoint.

Almafitano pointed to the new buyers entering into the equation over the last five years—in all segments, including fractional, charter, whole, new, and used aircraft—as one critical model to follow. “People are access,” he said, noting that overall young people are starting to travel 20 years sooner than in previous generations. The way to reach them is to target the experiences that drive their purchase decisions, and model the clean energy they expect, not just from a propulsion standpoint but from a corporate one too, including parts and services that register reduced or zero-carbon emissions. 

Though Embraer Executive Jets is comprised of eight verticals, Almafitano covered four in his presentation, including:

With more than 1,600 executive jet aircraft delivered, 980-plus operators, and a footprint touching more than 70 countries, Embraer is poised to disrupt. When looking at the company’s investment in advanced air mobility with the Eve electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, he talked about taking concepts from the single-pilot operated Phenom models and using those lessons learned to enable autonomy.

“Safety first, quality always,” he said was the driving philosophy—and security as part of safety, “otherwise you have a missile” in the event of a hostile takeover of an autonomous aircraft by a malevolent actor.

In partnership with FlightSafety International, Embraer also announced the upcoming availability of a full-flight simulator (FSS) for the Praetor 500 and 600 at FlightSafety’s Orlando location, beginning in the second quarter of 2023. Embraer’s fleet of Praetor aircraft in service now tops 200 units.

“With Praetor jet deliveries increasing consistently, we have realized the need to offer additional capacity for training to our customers worldwide. The new full-flight simulator will provide Embraer’s customers with the latest technological aircraft updates, bringing the highest level of service to the market,” said Johann Bordais, president & CEO of Embraer Services & Support.