Embraer
Embraer, the Brazilian manufacturer of regional jets, is going from strength to strength and has now sold over 1000 of its ERJ product. With net sales of over $5bn in 2007 and net income of just under $0.5bn, its 170/190 ranges of commercial airliners have been a huge success with new orders from airlines including KLM, Lufthansa, Virgin Nigeria and TACA. Moreover, riding the fractional ownership wave created by the likes of Net-Jets in the rapidly expanding executive jet market, Embraer’s Phenom family now has over 700 orders. Add to this the recent creation of an after-sales services business, and Embraer is now a major player on the world aviation stage.

EADS
Airbus manufacturer EADS is again in the midst of politically driven reorganisation but it has some excellent new products. Unlike the 787, the A380 is flying, albeit a bit later than promised, and orders for this mammoth product are being fulfilled. At this same time the A350 is in development and, in the military arena, EADS’s probable success in winning the second-biggest military procurement contract of all time for aerial-refuelling tankers is causing ructions in Washington. Yes, EADS is allegedly subsidised by the French and German governments but the Pentagon usually gives Boeing a helping hand. EADS is resurgent and, with a proactive policy towards China, tipped for growth.