Saab Aircraft Signs Service Center Agreement for Embraer Aircraft Maintenance

Saab Aircraft AB of Linköping, Sweden and Embraer Aviation International of France have signed a long term agreement making Saab Aircraft an authorized service center for maintenance of the Embraer EMB 120, EMB 135, 140 and 145 aircraft types.

"The Embraer service center authorization is a key milestone in our long term strategy to broaden the range of products and services that we are able to offer our current and future customers. Addition of other aircraft types to our existing Saab 340 and Saab 2000 maintenance capability is a logical next step." Says Michael Andersson, Vice President of Saab Aircraft AB. "The fact that Embraer has the confidence to provide us with a factory authorization is a further acknowledgement of our MRO capabilities and the high levels of quality provided by our service center. "

The service center authorization provides a factory approval for Saab Aircraft to perform line and heavy maintenance checks on Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia turboprop as well as the EMB 135, 140, and 145 jet aircraft. Saab Aircraft already holds a national JAR-145 approval.

With the Embraer authorization in hand, Saab is now in the process of acquiring special tooling and training staff to maintain the new types. Commercial discussions are on-going with several Embraer aircraft operators, and a "launch customer" for new Embraer maintenance service is expected to be released in the near future.

Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. - NYSE: ERJ; Bovespa: EMBR3 and EMBR4) is a major aerospace company with 34 years of experience in designing, developing, manufacturing, selling and providing after sales support to aircraft for the global airline, defense and corporate markets. With headquarters in São José dos Campos, state of São Paulo, and offices and customer service bases in Australia, China, France, Singapore and the United States, the Company, as of the end of the 1st Quarter 2003, has a total workforce of 12,348 people. Embraer is among Brazil's leading exporting companies. As of June 30, 2003 Embraer's firm order backlog totaled US$ 10.3 billion.

Saab Aircraft AB, with offices in Linköping Sweden and Sterling, Virginia in the U.S. supports and maintains the combined Saab 340 and Saab 2000 fleet of over 500 aircraft in service with operators around the world. Saab Aircraft AB is part of the Saab Aviation Services Business Area of Saab AB.

Saab is one of the world’s leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on defence, aviation and space. The group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capabilities in systems integration.

For further information please contact:
Mr. John Belanger, Public Relations and Communications, Saab Aircraft AB
Phone: +46 13 183101

www.saabaircraft.com
www.saab.se

Mr. Stéphane Guilbaud
Corporate Communication Manager
Europe - Africa - Middle East, Embraer Phone +33 1 49 38 44 55



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