April 25, 2011 - Aerospace Vehicle Systems Institute (AVSI) director Dr. David Redman has announced that Embraer (Embraer - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A.) has joined the AVSI Cooperative.
"We are pleased that Embraer, one of the largest airplane manufacturers in the world, has chosen to join the Cooperative," Redman said. "They bring their impressive capability and experience with cutting edge technologies to the table. Working on common issues with the other leading aviation industry companies that are already AVSI members will enhance the value that AVSI projects can deliver to the participants."
Embraer is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military and executive aircraft, and is headquartered in São José dos Campos, Brazil.
"AVSI has had an European presence for some time with Member companies including Smiths Aerospace [now GE Aviation], BAE Systems, and most recently Airbus," Redman said. "Embraer’s membership expands our international outreach to South America. As the major aircraft original equipment manufacturer on the continent, I am hopeful that this will provide opportunities to collaborate with additional South American organizations."
AVSI provides a forum for aerospace industry organizations to collaborate on common, pre-competitive issues. AVSI addresses issues that impact the aerospace community through international cooperative research and collaboration conducted by industry, government and academia.
A division of TEES, AVSI’s membership includes Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, the U.S. Department of Defense, Embraer, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Goodrich, GE Aviation, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Rockwell Collins, and the United Technologies Corp.
"Initially, Embraer will be working with seven other members on our System Architecture Virtual Integration [SAVI] project, and with several other members and associate members on our Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication [WAIC] project," Redman said. "These are the two largest, current AVSI projects.
"SAVI is focused on developing the technologies necessary to enable virtual integration of complete aircraft, while WAIC is performing the work necessary to enable the development of avionics that can interoperate without the traditional data cabling that adds weight and reliability issues to aircraft systems. I look forward to working with Embraer to identify additional projects that can help them develop safer and more reliable aircraft."