Embraer celebrates 55 years with focus on growth and confidence in the future

On August 19, Embraer will celebrate a milestone—its 55th anniversary—highlighting a legacy of excellence in the development of people, products, and contributions to the global aeronautical industry.

Over the past five and a half decades, the Brazilian aerospace giant has built an impressive history marked by innovation, quality, and a steadfast commitment to advancing aviation technology.

Having produced and delivered over 9,000 aircraft to more than 100 countries, Embraer has established itself as a key player on the global stage. The company’s modern portfolio of products is backed by over 800 registered patents, a testament to its dedication to continuous innovation.

These innovations not only drive Embraer’s success but also contribute significantly to the transformation of knowledge into high-value industrial activity, solidifying Brazil’s position as a global reference in the aeronautical industry.

Embraer’s success is deeply rooted in the integration and knowledge exchange between its diverse business units—Commercial Aviation, Executive Aviation, Defense & Security, and Services & Support.

This synergy has fueled a trajectory of success, guided by the company’s focus on training and qualifying talent, fostering technological development, driving innovation, and strategically identifying market opportunities.

In 2024, Embraer is actively executing its strategic plan to meet the demands of an aircraft production ramp-up and to position itself for future growth. This plan includes significant investments in research and development, aimed at pioneering new technologies and ensuring the company’s continued leadership in the aerospace sector.

History of Embraer

The development of a competitive aeronautics industry in Brazil began in the 1930s with initiatives from the government and private sector. However, the conception of the project to create the Aeronautics Technical Center (CTA) and the Aeronautics Institute of Technology (ITA) by the Ministry of Aeronautics and led by Air Marshal Casimiro Montenegro Filho in the 1940s established the strategic guidance for the solidity of the sector, with a focus on training engineers and technological development.

The purpose of establishing a company capable of transforming science and technology into engineering and industrial capacity became a reality on August 19, 1969, by Decree-Law No. 770, which created Embraer, a mixed-capital company with state control. The first mission was to conduct the improvement, certification and serialized production of the IPD 6504 project that gave rise to the EMB-110 Bandeirante aircraft, under the leadership of the engineer Ozires Silva at CTA.

In January 1970, Embraer began its industrial operations in the town of São José dos Campos, with additional orders from the Brazilian government to produce the Italian military jet Xavante and the new EMB-200 Ipanema crop-duster. In its first decade of existence, the company promoted key contributions to national integration through the Bandeirante aircraft, which strengthened the regional aviation sector, developed the executive turboprop aircraft EMB-121 Xingu and began its first exports.