Singapore, February 6, 2018 – Embraer Defense & Security announced today, at the Singapore Airshow, the signing of a Letter of Intent with aviation services company SkyTech for up to six new KC-390 multi-mission transport aircraft.
The aircraft are earmarked for multiple defense projects and both companies have also agreed on a potential strategic collaboration to jointly explore new business opportunities in training and services.
SkyTech is the result of a partnership between two long-standing players in the field of defense services: aircraft, complete crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) company HiFly, from Portugal, and Australian aviation services and charter provider Adagold Aviation.
“We have been following the KC-390 program since its inception and believe that it will be a game-changer in the medium-sized airlift category as well as a multi-role platform”, said Paulo Mirpuri, president of SkyTech. The company has also stated that this is the first of a wide variety of platforms that will fulfil various niche roles and projects that SkyTech is undertaking worldwide.
“Embraer is keen to have SkyTech as a strategic partner for some of our own planned
projects, where we see them adding value and enhancements by providing various ongoing
solutions to our own defense customer base”, said Jackson Schneider, president and CEO of
Embraer Defense & Security.
The KC-390 is a tactical transport aircraft developed to establish new standards in its category while presenting the lowest life cycle cost on the market. It is capable of carrying out various missions, such as transporting cargo, troops or paratroopers, aerial refueling, in addition to supporting humanitarian missions, search and rescue missions, medical evacuation and aerial firefighting. The KC-390 can transport up to 26 metric tons of cargo at a maximum speed of 470 knots (870 km/h), as well as operating in hostile environments, including unprepared or damaged runways.
About Embraer
Embraer is a global company headquartered in Brazil with businesses in commercial and
executive aviation, defense & security. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing customer support and services.
Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. About every 10
seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.
Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 130 seats. The company
maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other
activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.
About SkyTech
SkyTech offers solutions to address shortfalls in military aviation. The company is able to
fund Military Aircraft, Flight Simulators and other related equipment with a wide range of
cost effective and innovative options. SkyTech can also provide operations and maintenance
support and a wide range of military services by offering a variety of solutions for short,
medium or long-term contracts.
SkyTech’s innovative solutions have been built on a solid foundation of successfully
managing and coordinating the interface between Military and Civilian operations, their
specific requirements and the various levels of compliance. With extensive experience
supplying aircraft to several Ministries of Defence and Governments, SkyTech offers a highly
qualified level of customer service, with long standing commercial, technical and operational
experience.
SkyTech is powered by Hi Fly – Hi Fly operates a large fleet of Airbus aircraft: A330’s and
A340’s and is a successful wet and dry-lease specialized Airline, certified by EASA, by the
Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) and by the Transport Malta Civil Aviation
Directorate (TM CAD). Hi Fly has also approvals to operate in the United States by the USA
Department of Transportation. The airline is also certified to operate worldwide without any
restrictions, including holding Foreign AOC from countries such as: Australia, Japan and
Canada, Brazil and Mexico.
Image credit: Mike Fuchslocher / Shutterstock.com
