The delegation visited the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) in the morning, followed by the headquarters of EMBRAER in the afternoon.

Welcomed by the Vice-Director of the DCTA, the student officers learned about the rich history of this institution founded in the 1940s. Inspired by the MIT “Smith Plan,” the DCTA was built on a core conviction: to build aircraft, a country must first train engineers. Its iconic campus was designed by legendary architect Oscar Niemeyer. Today, the DCTA drives innovation for the Brazilian Air Force using the “triple helix” model (State-University-Industry). It is from this elite ecosystem that EMBRAER was born in 1969.

The afternoon led the delegation to the headquarters of EMBRAER, the world’s 3rd largest commercial aircraft manufacturer and the global leader in the up-to-150-passenger airliner segment. The student officers toured the assembly and paint shops, as well as the flight-test facilities of the commercial aviation unit (E-Jets). This provided them with firsthand insight into the complete mastery of a highly complex aerospace industrial chain.

Beyond industrial prowess, EMBRAER stands out for its strong social commitment. Through the EMBRAER Institute (celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026), more than 5,500 students from public schools have already received high-quality secondary education free of charge.

This fourth day perfectly illustrated the remarkable synergy that links scientific research, engineering training, and industrial success. An inspiring model for building a sovereign Defense technological and industrial base, further enriching the bilateral cooperation between Cameroon and Brazil.