Aircraft Manufacturers

Major manufacturers of civil transport aircraft.

Airbus, Boeing and Tupoloev mainly manufacturer the wide-body and narrow-body jet airliners, while Bombardier and Embraer concentrate on regional airlines (2009¹¹). In order to make an aircraft the manufacturers have to source a number of different and unique parts to be able to construct the aircraft. There is a large network of specialized parts suppliers throughout the world that support the requirements of these manufacturers, who sometimes only provide the initial design and final assembly in their own plants (2009¹¹).

There are five major manufacturers of civil transport aircraft these include:

1. Airbus
2. Boeing
3. Bombardier
4. Embraer
5. Tupoloev

Airbus. Airbus is one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers fulfilling about half or more of the orders for airliners with more thean 100 seats. Airbus is based in Europe with its headquarters in Toulouse, France and has 12 sites in Europe located in France, Germany, Spain and UK (20091). Airbus also has three subsidiaries in the USA, Japan and China. They employ about 52,000 people from 85 nationalities who speak among them over 20 different languages (20091). Airbus currently have a product line-up of 14 jet aircraft types which range from 100 to 525 seats. There has been more than 9,200 aircraft ordered throughout the world as the Airbus aircraft family is recognised for its comfort, economics and versatility (20091).	An Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner (image embedded from Wikipedia on 13 September 2009)
Boeing. Boeing is one of the other main aerospace companies and are the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Boeing also design and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems (20092). Boeing is based in USA with its headquarters located in Chicago. They employ more than 158,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries, making them one of the most diverse, talented and innovative workforces anywhere in the world (20092). The main commercial product that Boeing manufacturers are the 737, 747, 767 and 777 families of airplanes and the Boeing Business Jet, with nearly 12,000 commercial jetliners in service worldwide (about 75 percent of the world fleet) (20092).	A jet-engined Boeing 777 taking off. (image embedded from Wikipedia on 13 September 2009)
Bombardier. Bombardier is a global transportation company that is present in over 60 countries on 5 continents. They operate two businesses: Aerospace and Rail Transportation. Bombardier Aerospace is the world's third largest civil aircraft manufacturer and are leaders in the design and manufacture of innovative aviation products and services for the business, regional and amphibious aircraft markets (20093). Their headquarters are in Montréal, Canada and they employ over 32,500 people worldwide (20093). It's high-performance aircraft and services are seen in a number of different markets including (20093): Business aircraft - Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft families; Commercial aircraft - new CSeries program, CRJ Series and Q-Series aircraft families; Amphibious aircraft - Bombardier 415 and Bombardier 415 MP aircraft; Jet travel solutions - Flexjet; Specialized aircraft solutions - Bombardier aircraft modified for special missions; Aircraft services and training - aircraft parts, maintenance, comprehensive training, technical support and publications, and online services.	Lufthansa Regional CRJ-100. (image embedded from Wikipedia on 1 October 2009)
Embraer. Embraer has become one of the main aircraft manufacturers in the world by focusing on specific market segments with high growth potential in commercial, defense, and executive aviation (20097). Embraer is based in São José dos Campos, Brazil and currently employ more than 17,237 people of which 87.7% are based in Brazil (20097). Embraer continues to lead the industry with its innovative regional and commercial jet product lines. Since 1996, Embraer has produced and delivered more than 1000 ERJs to more than 37 airlines in 24 countries (20097). The three markets that Embraer manufacture aircraft for include (20097): 1 Commercial Aviation - EMB 120; ERJ 135; ERJ 140; ERJ 145; ERJ 145 XR; EMBRAER 170; EMBRAER 175; EMBRAER 190 and EMBRAER 195. 2 Defense Systems - Super Tucano; EMB 145 AEW&C; EMB MULTI INTEL; EMB 145 MP and Legacy 600. 3 Executive Aviation - Lineage 1000; Legacy 600; Legacy 500; Legacy 450; Phenom 300 and Phenom 100.	Luxair Embraer ERJ 145. (image embedded from Wikipedia on 1 October 2009)
Tupolev. Tupolev is a Russian aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Moscow, Russia and is officially known as Public Stock Company (PSC) Tupolev (200910). PSC Tupolev develop, manufacture and overhaul both civil and military aerospace products such as aircraft and weapons systems. They are also actively developing missile and naval aviation technologies, with more than 18,000 Tupolev aircraft produced for the USSR and the Eastern Bloc (200910). Many of the designs that PSC Tupoley have come up with over the years have been dead-ends or experimental aircraft although they also developed a number of production series aircraft which may have runs up to 4,500 as in the Tu-2 (200910). The designs go back to the early piston-powered aircraft; experimental airplanes; Bombers and other military types; Interceptors (Tu-28/Tu-128P "Fiddler"); airliners/transport; unmanned aircraft and planned aircraft (PAK DA and Tu-2000) (200910).	Aeroflot Tupolev Tu-154M. (image embedded from Wikipedia on 1 October 2009)

Major manufacturers of general aviation aircraft.

General aviation includes all non-scheduled civil flying, both private and commercial. General aviation can also include: business flights; private aviation; flight training; air charter; ballooning; parachuting; aerial photography; hang gliding; gliding; foot-launched powered hang gliders; air ambulance; crop dusting; charter flights; traffic reporting; police air patrols; and forest fire fighting (2009¹¹).

The following small aircraft manufacturers are among a number of other manufacturers that serve the general aviation market with a focus on private aviation and flight training (2009¹¹):

• Cessna
• Cirrus Design
• Diamond
• Mooney
• Piper

Cessna. Cessna Aircraft Company are the leading designer and manufacturer of light and midsize business jets, utility turboprops and single engine aircraft as they have sold and delivered more aircraft then anyone else (190,000 and counting) (20094). They started more than eight decades ago as a small aircraft company in Wichita, Kansas (USA) with an aim to build a monoplane that used a wing without struts or braces, and now they employ over 15,000 people worldwide (20094) The company is a subsidiary of the U.S. conglomerate Textron.	Cessna 152 (image embedded from Wikipedia on 13 September 2009)
Cirrus Design. Cirrus Design Corporation is an aircraft manufacturer and the worlds leading innovator of single-engine piston-powered aircraft, with their SR22 being the worlds best selling airplane in its class (20095). They began in 1984 as a kit airplane and design manufacturing company in Wisconsin, US with their VK-30 aircraft, before moving their headquarters in 1994 to Minnesota, US to begin research and development of the SR20 (four passenger, single-engine composite aircraft) with the help of over 950 employees (20095). Since they started they have also manufactured the fuselage, wings and tail section of a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) for the US Department of Defense using composite technology in all three components. Cirrus have also developed the SRV, SR20 and SR22 to incorporate flat-panel, multi-function display technology and state-of-the-art safety innovations, including a final level of protection known as the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) – a ballistic parachute deployed from the back of the aircraft, in most cases, that allows the entire aircraft to descend safely from an emergency (20095).	2003 model Cirrus SR22. (image embedded from Wikipedia on 1 October 2009)
Diamond. Diamond Aircraft Industries is an Austrian-based manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, motor gliders and simulators. They are a global manufacturer with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia employing 1,200 people and producing over 3,500 aircraft (20096). There are two production facilities, one located in Austria (head office, research and development operations conducted) and one in Canada. At both of these facilities they produce aircraft for flight schools and private operators (20096).	Diamond DA40 Diamond Star. (image embedded from Wikipedia on 1 October 2009)
Mooney. The Mooney Airplane Company (MAC) is a US manufacturer of single engine general aviation aircraft which was founded in 1929, and who have since delivered more than 11,000 aircraft worldwide (2009)8). Their headquarters are located in Kerrville, Texas (USA). Mooney serves 7,000 customers in the US and 1,000 internationally with a fleet of aircraft that has flown more than 40 million hours (2009)8). During their involvement in the aviation industry so far, Mooney has accumulated a number of significant achievements including producing the first pressurized single-engine piston-powered aircraft (M22 Mustang); production of the fastest single-engine aircraft (Mooney Acclaim); first production aircraft to achieve 200 mph on 200 hp (M20J 201); and the fastest transcontinental flight in a single-engine piston-powered aircraft (M20K 231) (2009)8). All Mooney aircraft have the signature vertical stabilizer with its vertical leading-edge and swept trailing edge that gives the illusion of being forward-swept (2009)8).	Mooney M20T Acclaim. (image embedded from Wikipedia on 1 October 2009)
Piper. Piper Aircraft, Inc., is a manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, located at the Vero Beach Municpial Airport in Vero Beach, Florida. Mr Piper introduced the Piper Cub in 1937, and since then Piper Aircraft have become the only general aviation manufacturer to offer a complete line of aircraft from rugged trainers to high-performance turbo-props, and the new PiperJet producing more than 144,000 aircraft - 85,000 of which are still flying (20099). They currently manufacture Meridian (business and personal transportation); Mirage; Matrix; Seneca V; Seminole; Arrow; Warrior III; PiperJet (20099).	Piper PA-28-161 Warrior II (image embedded from Wikipedia on 13 September 2009)

References

1. AIRBUS (2009). Airbus. Retrieved from Airbus on 13 September 2009.

2. BOEING (2009). Boeing. Retrieved from Boeing on 13 September 2009.

3. BOMBARDIER (2009). Bombardier. Retrieved from Bombardier on 13 September 2009.

4. CESSNA AIRCRAFT COMPANY (2009). Cessna. Retrieved from Cessna on 1 October 2009.

5. CIRRUS AIRCRAFT (2009). Cirrus Aircraft. Retrieved from Cirrus on 1 October 2009.

6. DIAMOND AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES (2009). Diamond Aircraft. Retrieved from Diamond on 1 October 2009.

7. EMBRAER (2009). Embraer. Retrieved from Embraer on 13 September 2009.

8. MOONEY AIRPLANE COMPANY (2009). Mooney Airplane Company. Retrieved from Mooney on 1 October 2009.

9. PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC. (2009). Piper Aircraft. Retrieved from Piper on 1 October 2009.

10. PSC TUPOLEV (2009). PSC Tupolev. Retrieved from Tupolev on 13 September 2009.

11. WIKIPEDIA (2009). Aviation. Retrieved from Wikipedia on 12 September 2009.

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