Embraer, the Brazil-based maker of Ipanema agricultural aircraft delivered 18% more of these planes by December 2023 than in 2022.
Briefing Reuters on January 15, the company said that the record deliveries banked on a strong growth of Brazil’s farming sector.
Ipanema is an eco-friendly biofuel plane that farmers in Brazil use to dust crops, especially soya, corn, coffee and sugarcane.
In preliminary figures, the total deliveries of the agricultural planes up to December 2023 were 65 units. This was 18% above the 2022 dispatches and marked the 1600th Ipanema delivery in 50 years of production.
Since the date of its founding in 1969, Embraer has made 8000 aircraft, including commercial jets. Agricultural aircraft came into the scene in the 1970s and gained momentum in the early 1980s.
100% Ethanol
At a time when the world, especially the U.S., is seeking ethanol-based aviation, Embraer has introduced the already popular EMB-203.
The ethanol-run aircraft model is set to make inroads for the company to assemble 70 planes in 2024.
This comes as no surprise as the aircraft echoes Ipanema’s distinction as the only plane worldwide that runs on 100% ethanol.
Brazil’s Agribusiness and Aviation
Costing 3.6 million real ($741,412), the cost-friendly and energy-efficient Ipanema is accessible to large-scale farmers in Brazil.
It helped edge agribusiness to 25% of Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and contributed to an unexpected 3% GDP growth in 2023.
Sany Onofre, manager of the Ipanema project, recognizes the role of the aircraft. He says it uplifts Brazil’s economy and cites its “efficiency and sustainability” model.
Because the Ipanema can spray 491 acres an hour, it saves thousands of Brazilian reals that would otherwise go to manual dusting.
Importantly, the use of the agricultural plane will help Brazil harvest some 300 million tonnes of grain in the 2023-24 period.
Ultimately, Embraer’s agricultural planes also contribute to national employment. The Botucatu plant that makes Ipanema aircraft is home to 1800 employees.