SOARING EVEN HIGHER

In over a ceremony to celebrate fulfilled agreements with a new client, Embraer′s headquarters in São José dos Campos was festive on July 27th. Executives, press and guests celebrated the delivery of the Embraer-175 Air Canada aircraft that compounds a request for 15 aircraft of the same model, in addition to the 45 Embraer-190s ordered by the Canadian company. The celebration carries a taste of victory, especially for Brazilians who accompanied the disputes in the World Trade Organization (WTO) that led Air Canada to review its contracts with a regional Canadian manufacturer Bombardier.
But it was not just the aggressive marketing that ensured the recent claims made by Jet Blue, U.S. Airways, Saudi Arabian, Flybe, EasyJet, Paramount Airways and many others. "The fact that Air Canada is flying with our plane shows that our product is better than our competitors", said Embraer’s President Mauricio Botelho to the press.

Embraer is certainly the most famous example of successful Brazilian aeronautics industry. But dozens of other domestic and less known foreign companies already share the growth dividend of the sector. To James Rojas Waterhouse, professor of Aeronautical Maintenance and Certification at the Engineering School of São Carlos (EESC), from University of São Paulo - USP, all favorable conditions have been created so the market is ready to get off the ground abroad. But incentive policies are still needed to encourage research and development, and the formation of a greater number of qualified professionals. "This sector, in Brazil, is employer.

But still there isn’t work force enough to the demand. The segment is expected to grow steadily. However federal government support will be essential to develop new products and services", says Waterhouse.

Training will be precisely the subject discussed on August 12th by Waterhouse and other experts, as Fulvio Delicato Filho from Embraer, Daniel Gonçalves from TAM, and Eduardo Américo from the Civil Aviation Department (DAC), during the 2nd Week of Engineering Aeronautics, which occurs August from Monday to Friday, 8 to 12, at EESC. The meeting will discuss topics such as "The importance of the aeronautical engineer in the companies", "The other courses/trends/routes of the aeronautical engineer" and "Overview of the General Aviation in Brazil", in addition it’ll offer short courses and roundtables.

TURBOCHARGED
"This is a broad market, booming, and that benefits many sectors of the economy. Brazil has the conditions and chances to increase its participation and has caught the world′s attention. We now need to develop a critical mass of experts”, says Professor Waterhouse. While the estimated world GDP’s growth is around 3.3% in 2005, expectations for global demand for flights on planes from 30 to 120 seats is expected to grow 5.4%, according to data from Embraer outlook 2005-2024, a study for the next 20 years of the commercial aircraft market.

According to this document, jets global fleet from 30 up to 120 seats shall increase from 3,861 aircrafts in 2004 to 9,099 in 2024. During the next 20 years, 67% of the projected delivery of aircrafts in the world will provide the increase of the current system, not to mention aircraft replacement that will achieve their age operational limit, says the report.

The ideal requirements already created that may lead national industry to gain greater market share are basically three, in Waterhouse’s view. "The sector tends to have more qualified people, especially with the new course at USP in São Carlos. We already have the IFI (Institute of Fomentation and Industrial Coordination, which certifies aeronautical products and services), one of the best certification offices in the world. Moreover, the cost-effectiveness of our products is the best worldwide", he says. "These are the main aspects for us to receive heavy investment".

But the demands for the sector "depend on a whole scenario of growth that begins in the University," adds Waterhouse. The configuration of the city of Sao Carlos as an aviation hub that attracts more and more companies in the industry is a living example of how the University can become a business center, he says.

Mario Antonio Stefani, managing partner of Opto, a company specialized in manufacturing and development of optical products, laser and aerospace, believes that the segment has everything to gain with the emergence of more courses in aeronautical engineering. "With a few specialized schools, there was in Brazil what we call consanguineous generation, that is, engineers were always formed by the same schools. It is no good that only one institution overwhelms knowledge generation and professionals training, because no school is perfect and one complements the other. Diversity is important, "he says.

Majored in Mechanical Engineering and Electronics from EESC and MS and Ph.D. in Physics from USP, Stefani also participates in the 2nd Week of Aeronautical Engineering, with a lecture on August 9th, at 9 am, on "The missile laser fuze MAA-1 Piranha". "Military and Aerospace application in Brazil is still very limited and research usually depends on federal funds, which is always a rough sledding in Brazil," says the engineer who 15 years ago, developed projects for the military area.

"Notice for example, the Alcantara’s base case. Not that the explosion is directly linked to it. But federal funding is always a problem. Furthermore, there are not many people with experience in aerospace engineering. The arising courses will be very welcome. "

Source: Jornal da USP