Embraer and AVIC Announce Joint Venture to Build Executive Jets in China

About Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd.

On December 2, 2002, Embraer signed the industrial cooperation agreement with China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) to set up the joint venture Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co,. Ltd. (HEAI) to produce the ERJ145 jets, making it the first facility outside Brazil for regional jets assembly. In January of 2003, HEAI was inaugurated. The year 2003 marked HEAI’s completion of the start-to-finish process of “incorporation, production, roll-out and maiden flight,” a historic milestone for aircraft manufacturing in China. In 2006, the company attained AS9100B certification and became the first commercial aircraft manufacturer in Asia to be certified by the US company NQA. HEAI joined the International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) and was included in the Online Aerospace Supplier Information System (OASIS). In 2007, the company received the Best Cooperation Award in the Laureates Awards Program, the top honor in China’s aviation industry. In 2008, HEAI was given the International Cooperation Award as part of AVIC’s “China Aviation Times” program. At the end of 2008, the company was approved by ISO14001 EMS and received certification early the following year. HEAI’s achievements result from successful cooperation between AVIC and Embraer. The company is often referred to as “another model of South-South cooperation” by both Chinese and Brazilian leaders. To date, 41 ERJ 145s have been delivered to airlines in China. HEAI has become an important force to further boost the robust development of China’s regional aviation industry that will enable more Chinese travelers to benefit from regional airline services.