Embraer intends to expand its Melbourne, Florida, factory to include an assembly line for the Legacy 450 and 500 midsize fly-by-wire business jets currently in development. While the details of the expansion still need to be approved by local and state officials, the Brazilian jet maker said it hopes to open the new facility as soon as 2016 and add 600 new jobs within five years of opening the center.
An Embraer representative told Flying that the approval is expected within six months and that plans call for construction to begin next year. Embraer plans to invest $28 million in tooling, equipment and materials for the new facility. The planned expansion includes 236,000 square feet to be added to the 138,000-square-foot facility Embraer currently uses for a global customer center and an assembly line and paint facility for the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 light business jets. A 74,000-square-foot center for engineering and technology is also in the works.
