The C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft programme from Embraer has accomplished yet another significant milestone in the history of aviation. The aircraft attained Full Operational Capability during a ceremony performed at the Gavio Peixoto Unit in So Paulo in the presence of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) High Command (FOC).

The FOC Certificate, which is issued by the Institute of Industrial Development and Coordination (IFI in Portuguese), the Brazilian agency in charge of approving aircraft for military use, certifies that the project satisfies all FAB requirements and that the aircraft is capable of performing all missions for which it was designed.

Embraer’s C-390 Millennium debuts at the NATO Days event in the Czech Republic(Opens in a new browser tab)

“This certificate places the C-390 in a select group of aircraft in the world,” says Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense and Security. “It is a unique moment in Embraer’s history. The C-390 is redefining the military airlift and refueling space, challenging the thinking behind current and future-generation platforms. Air forces around the world are focused on matching their ever-evolving operational needs with their budgets, seeking a platform that can perform multiple missions, recognizing that today’s choice will affect their operational capabilities tomorrow.”

Developed under the strict operational requirements of the FAB, the genesis of the C-390 is in the triple helix model, the culmination of the union of the greatest minds from academia, industry, and government. As part of the development and certification process, around 3,500 hours were flown on the prototype aircraft under the most varied operating conditions, and another 85,000 hours were performed using laboratory test benches and devices. After years of development, testing, and certification, the result is a design established to the highest industry standards.

At the same event, Embraer began the delivery process to the FAB of the sixth unit of the C-390, the first in the FOC configuration. The other aircraft already delivered to the FAB will now be updated to have the certification. In addition, all aircraft to be exported will also have this certification.