Embraer
I am a General Aviation (GA) aficionado. Have tried getting a private pilot certificate on a couple occasions but due to my workload have not been able to accomplish it yet.
Earlier today, I was browsing on the web at different GA aircraft. I am a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA) www.aopa.org. As a benefit one receives a couple aircraft oriented magazines a month. On my Internet Explorer (IE) browser I have booked marked most companies that produce GA aircraft. When I get the pilot itch, I visit several of the aircraft related web sites (it is nice to dream).
Given the state of the economy in the US, the information on a few web sites I visited early today called my attention.
Eclipse Aviation (www.eclipseaviation.com), before filing for bankruptcy protection in November 25, 2008 used to employ about 900 people. Eclipse Aviation is based in Albuquerque, NM. Their claim to fame was introducing the very light jet (VLJ) category of aircraft into the industry. With two engines and seating capacity for five or six people (depending on configuration), they cost less than the most inexpensive business jet planes now in service. What called my attention was the founder, Vern Raburn. Back when, Vern joined Bill Gates as one of the first employees (employee #18) at Microsoft Corporation. He served at Microsoft as President of the Consumer Products Division and was responsible for the company’s entry into the retail channel. This Naive American founded Eclipse Aviation which designs, develops and produces an innovative product and in so doing provides jobs for about 900 people, mostly in the US.
Perhaps you have not heard of Eclipse Aviation because they are a rather young entry into GA and have not 
produced many aircraft yet. Now Cessna Aircraft Company (www.cessna.com) might be a different story. This American company is based in Wichita, Kansas. It employs world wide about 15,000 people. Not sure how many are Naive Americans. Cessna main products are general aviation aircraft. Although they are the most well known for their small, piston-powered aircraft, they also produce business jets. I particularly like the Cessna Grand Caravan. Cessna is owned by Textron, which produces many aviation related products.
In a larger scale, most Naive Americans know about the Boeing Company (www.boeing.com) with about 164,000 employees worldwide established in 1916. Boeing was founded in Seattle, Washington and is currently headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Most Naive Americans have flown in a Boeing or a McDonnell Douglas commercial aircraft. Boeing is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales. Boeing is an American company designing and manufacturing products in the USA. What more could we ask for our economy.
Not sure if you fly or have flow Continental Airlines (www.continental.com). Continental operates Continental 
Express and ExpressJet (www.expressjet.com), which service smaller airports. Northwest Airlines (www.nwa.com) based in Eagan, MN (I live in the Twin Cities Area of Minneapolis and St. Paul in Minnesota) uses Mesaba and Pinnacle to service small airports with reduced traffic. I have flown dozens of times in aircraft from Continental Express. Continental Express flies Embraer ERJ-135, Embraer ERJ-145 and Embraer ERJ-145XR aircraft. According to their web site, Continental Express has a fleet of 205 planes and ExpressJet 30. So who makes these ERJ jets? Embraer.
Embraer has become one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world by focusing on specific market segments with high growth potential in commercial, defense, and executive aviation. Embraer develops and adapt successful aircraft platforms and judiciously introduce new technology whenever it creates value by lowering acquisition price, reducing direct operating costs, or delivering higher reliability, comfort, and safety. As a result, their aircraft provide excellent performance with day-in and day-out reliability, while being economical to acquire and cost-effective to operate and maintain. Embraer provides a superior product package, with comprehensive aircraft and after-sales support for parts, services, and technical assistance.
Embraer is a Brazilian company. Brazil is a Latin American country, which was removed from the list of developing nations a few years ago. By the way, Brazil does not import oil, the US does. Embraer currently employs more than 23,509 people, 87.7% based in Brazil. Not too many Naive Americans are sharing the wealth produced by this company. Embraer designs and manufactures commercial jets, executive jets and defense systems
Embraer was Brazil’s largest exporter from 1999 to 2001 and the second largest in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Embraer currently has the third largest yearly delivery of commercial aircraft and the third largest workforce (behind Boeing and Airbus).
The Naive American invites you to visit their web site www.embraer.com and learn more about the history of the company. Learn how the government of Brazil helped Embraer become a reality. In a couple days our president-elect Obama will be taking office as the 44th US president. We all remember his slogan: CHANGE. It seems to the Naive American that CHANGE means to start learning what other countries are doing with industry in order to generate well paying jobs and apply them to the USA. Since the early 1950′s the US has been on a path of dissolution. President Barack Obama, make good on your promises and induce a CHANGE in America!
