Embraer's deliveries during the third quarter increased by nine aircraft to 57, with an almost even split between business and commercial jets.

The airframer delivered 29 commercial aircraft and 27 business jets, the bulk of which were the Phenom 100 light jet aircraft. Year-over-year deliveries for that aircraft increased from zero to 22 as the production ramp up of the type continues.

In July of this year company executives said the third quarter would be key for the Phenom 100 as Embraer worked to achieve a production rate of 3.5 aircraft per week. The executives also said at that time 70 aircraft were on the assembly line and finishing and delivering those aircraft would be a challenge.

Deliveries of the airframer's Legacy 600 aircraft fell from nine to five year-over-year.

In its commercial line E-190s accounted for the largest number of deliveries at 17, although that's a decrease of three aircraft compared with the 20 E-190s delivered during the third quarter of 2008. E-195 deliveries grew from one to four year-over-year as E-170 deliveries increased by one aircraft to four. Deliveries of the E-175 jet fell by nine aircraft from 12 to three. Embraer delivered one ERJ-145 during the quarter.

Embraer recorded one defense industry delivery as the airframer delivered the first E-190 to the Brazilian government.

The company has delivered 153 aircraft through the third quarter of this year. Its $18.6 billion backlog is 6% less than the $19.8 billion it recorded on 30 June. Embraer earlier this year said it aims to deliver 115 commercial aircraft in 2009.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news