"The grand opening of this service center reinforces Embraer's long-term commitment to providing a full-service support network for its growing fleet of executive jets in North America and signals its readiness for the Phenom 100 to enter service," said Edson Carlos Mallaco, Embraer Vice President for Customer Support and Services, Executive Jets.
"The Mesa facility is part of the Company's investment of over US$ 100 million in the infrastructure and organization needed to ensure convenient and efficient support and services to its executive jets customers," he added.
The new Embraer facility consists of a hangar, workshops and office space, for an estimated investment of US$ 10 million. The Brazilian firm promises to create approximately 60 jobs over the next five years in Arizona. The first employees are already hired. By the end of September they will complete training for servicing the Phenom 100 model.
"What an exciting day for the City of Mesa, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, and the entire region, as Embraer officially opens its new service center," said Scott Smith, Chairman of the PMGAA Board of Directors and Mayor of Mesa, Arizona.
"This is exactly the type of company we want at the airport and in our community – a globally-recognized aerospace leader with a track record of success."
Partners in the Embraer project include the State of Arizona, the City of Mesa, and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority.
Architectural and engineering firm Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon, Inc., designed the new facility, and Chase Construction was the builder, both based in Nashville, Tennessee, where an Embraer Service Center provides support for its commercial E-Jets and the Legacy 600 and Lineage 1000 executives jets.
The executive jets service center network owned and operated by Embraer in the country should soon include locations at Ft. Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Bradley International Airport, in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Ribbon cutting ceremonies for Florida and Connecticut should also take place this fall.
According to Embraer, each facility will be capable of providing full-service aircraft care, including routine inspection, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and airframe, engine, avionics, and other systems repairs, 24/7 assistance, Aircraft On Ground (AOG) mobile rescue teams, and an inventory of expendable and repairable parts. Services may also include painting and interior refurbishments.
Embraer's authorized service center network in the U.S. is comprised of 24 locations and spans 18 states. By the end of 2008, Embraer will have seven wholly-owned (four in the U.S.) and 38 authorized service centers, worldwide.