Aircraft
Embraer Engineering Facing Future Challenges
Embraer's engineering team is exploring a variety of technologies to power aircraft of the future.
Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer senior v-p, engineering and technology
Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer senior v-p, engineering and technology. (Photo: Matt Thurber/AIN)

Having certified more than 20 aircraft since 2000, Embraer’s engineering team is moving ahead with a number of projects, although new clean-sheet aircraft designs don't top the list for now. The 3,500-strong centralized engineering operation supports all of Embraer’s business units, not just aircraft but also defense and maritime systems, according to Luís Carlos Affonso, senior v-p of engineering and technology. 

“This is another part of our secret sauce,” he said. “We learn from one business to another and keep improving. There are so many opportunities to improve the way we develop products.”