Embraer has selected Jacksonville, Florida as the base for
its U.S. Defense and Homeland Security marketing effort. The Brazilian
airframer is setting up shop in the Cecil Commerce Center, formerly
Cecil Field Naval Air Station. NAS Cecil Field closed in 1999,
but has since re-opened as a civilian airfield with four runways.
Embraer's expansion into the U.S. began in 1979 with a sales and
product support facility in Fort Lauderdale. For the site of its
latest venture the company focused on facilities and logistics.
Jacksonville won on these counts, its skilled labor force and
cost of living.
"We are very excited about Embraer's announcement,"
said Jerry Mallot, EVP of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of
Commerce. "The selection of Jacksonville for its production
facility is testament to the quality of Cecil Commerce Center
as a major aviation location."
Embraer has teamed with Lockheed Martin to bid for a U.S. Army
contract to build surveillance airplanes. Lockheed Martin announced
in May that it had joined with L3 Communications Holdings to bid
for work on the U.S. Army Aerial Common Sensor program.
Embraer, which has recently built special missions aircraft for
Brazil and Greece, "has been actively pursuing U.S. defense
and homeland security market opportunities that have requirements
for advanced, reliable and affordable intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance systems," says Embraer president and CEO
Mauricio Botelho.
