Business & GA

Embraer has signalled interest in a head-of-state variant of the Embraer 170/190 family as it works to diffuse protests against a presidential transport contract awarded to the Airbus A319 Corporate Jet (ACJ), writes Stephen Trimble.

Embraer chief executive Mauricio Botelho says there are preliminary design studies for a VIP configuration of the 190, and a Brazillian air force requirement for the jet is expected to emerge within five years.

Last month, Brazil picked the $56 million ACJ to replace its Boeing KC-137 long-range presidential transport, a 707-based platform that no longer complied with international flight rules.

A backlash ensued because the Embraer 190, unveiled on 9 February, was excluded from the competition for the prestigious contract.