Embraer closed the third quarter of 2011 (3Q11) having delivered 28 commercial and 18 executive jets. The firm order backlog totaled 16 billion. In the months of July, August and September, Embraer closed the sales of 17 E-Jets: two EMBRAER 190s to GECAS and another ten to Kenya Airways, as announced in June during the Paris Air Show, as well as five EMBRAER 195s to Lufthansa, in Germany. China Southern Airlines became the newest E-Jets operator and also received the commemorative 800th delivery, belonging to China's CDB Leasing which ordered a total of 20 jets. In early October, Embraer announced the sale of six more EMBRAER 190s to GECAS, which will be added to the Company's backlog in the fourth quarter of 2011. With this order, the U.S. leasing company will have a portfolio of 101 E-Jets.
The executive aviation unit delivered eight Phenom 100 and nine Phenom 300 jets in 3Q11, for a total of 17 light jets, as well as one Legacy jet. During the quarter, the Company showed a positive net balance in its orders. The highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with China's Minsheng Financial Leasing for the sale of up to 20 airplanes from the entire line of Embraer Executive Jets. At the beginning of October, Misheng sealed an agreement for the purchase of 13 Legacy 650 jets, which will be added to Embraer's backlog in the fourth quarter of 2011.
