Harbin, China, August 26, 2013 – Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co., Ltd (HEAI), Embraer’s joint venture with Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), announced that the first Legacy 650 large executive jet assembled in China successfully completed its maiden flight today. Delivery of the first Legacy 650 is scheduled for the end of 2013.
Embraer’s test pilots flew the aircraft for about two hours and thirty minutes, assessing its handling and performance characteristics. The aircraft’s systems were evaluated, including flight control, communication, and navigation.
“The successful maiden flight of HEAI’s first Legacy 650 marks an important milestone not only in the Embraer-AVIC partnership, but also in the history of the Chinese executive aviation industry, as the jet is also the first large executive jet assembled by a joint venture in China,” said Guan Dongyuan, Senior Vice President of Embraer and President of Embraer China. “Congratulations to all who have made it a success!”
“Today’s achievement is the fruit of Brazil-Sino collaboration and the hard work of all parties concerned,” said Yuri Capi, President of HEAI. “The maiden flight is of special significance to HEAI, as it demonstrates to the market that HEAI is fully capable and ready to offer customers high-quality executive jets assembled here in China.”
The Legacy 650 entered service in late 2010. With a range of 3,900 nautical miles (7,223 kilometers), it provides such nonstop flights as Beijing to Dubai and Hong Kong to Adelaide (Australia), while carrying four passengers under NBAA IFR conditions. It has the largest cabin in its class, offering three distinctive cabin zones. The Legacy 650 enables up to 14 passengers to work or rest during the flight, enjoying the latest-generation entertainment system and high-speed internet. The jet also has the largest in-flight-accessible baggage compartment and lavatory in its category.
Since February 2012, when the first Legacy 650 was delivered to the Chinese market, the Company has booked firm orders for 21 Legacy 650s and five options. To provide tailor-made and efficient customer support, Embraer is continuing to build its customer service network with several service centers authorized for executive jets customer services in the Greater China region.
About HEAI and HEAI the Legacy 600/650 Program
On December 2, 2002, Embraer signed the industrial cooperation agreement with Harbin Aircraft Industry Group., Ltd. (HAIG), a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) to set up the Harbin Embraer Aircraft Industry Co, Ltd. (HEAI) joint venture to produce the ERJ 145 jets, making it the first Embraer facility outside of Brazil for regional jets assembly. HEAI was inaugurated in January 2003.
The successful cooperation between Embraer and AVIC HAIG has made HEAI a great success. The joint venture is often referred to as “another model of South-South cooperation” by both Chinese and Brazilian leaders. By April 2012, HEAI had delivered 41 ERJ 145s to Chinese airlines. HEAI has become an important force in boosting the robust development of China’s regional aviation industry, which enables more Chinese travelers to benefit from regional airline services.
On June 21, 2012, in response to the potential demand from China’s flourishing executive aviation market, Embraer and AVIC (founded on November 6, 2008 through the restructuring and consolidation of AVIC I and AVIC II) reached a consensus to build Embraer’s Legacy 600/650 executive jets in China, using the infrastructure, financial resources, and workforce of HEAI.
On the same day, China’s ICBC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. signed a deal with HEAI for 10 Legacy 650s, including five firm orders and five options, becoming the launch customer of HEAI’s Legacy 600/650 program.
In January 2013, HEAI started assembling the first Legacy 650 large executive jet.
For more information about Embraer Executive Jets, see: www.EmbraerExecutiveJets.com.
