Embraer broke ground last week on its first U.S. aircraft assembly plant and customer center at Florida's Melbourne International Airport. Present at the ceremony were Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Melbourne City Mayor Harry Goode, and other distinguished State and local officials manning ceremonial shovels, along with Embraer President and CEO Frederico Fleury Curado.

The facility will be dedicated to the Brazilian planemaker’s executive jet business and is scheduled for completion in 2010. When full capacity is reached, the facility will produce up to eight Phenom business jets will be produced every month. MORE