Renowned aerospace veteran Luiz Oliveira appointed Chief Engineer at Beyond Aero

With over 44 years of aerospace experience, Luiz Oliveira has had a distinguished career at Embraer. After graduating with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica in 1979, Oliveira joined Embraer in 1980. Over the years, he logged approximately 6000 flight test hours, contributing significantly to the development and certification of numerous aircraft, including the E312 Tucano, AMX fighter, CBA123 pusher turboprop, and the E145 regional jet. His leadership was pivotal in the establishment of the Gavião Peixoto Flight Test site and the successful flight test programs of the E170 and E190 jets.

Throughout his career, Oliveira has been instrumental in several key business aviation programs. As a lead engineer, he contributed to the development of the Phenom 300, Legacy 500, and 190E2 aircraft. He also served as the Chief Engineer responsible for the flight test and certification program of the E-145, a commercial success for the company post-privatization, delivered on time and within budget. Oliveira was also involved in the flight test programs of the CBA-123 turboprop, the E-312 Tucano military trainer, and the E-120 turboprop.

He later led the development of the KC-390 for the Brazilian Air Force, designed to replace the C-130H. He developed aircraft and mission requirements that became part of the development contract, supporting the company's business plan and legal options for Brazilian Government program funding. Oliveira was responsible for the aircraft's preliminary phase and PDR (Preliminary Design Review), supporting the development team through other phases until aircraft IOC (Initial operational capability). He also led an engineering team to expand the CG (Center of Gravity) envelope of the E-314 ALX, allowing the series aircraft IOC with the Brazilian Air Force and export customers.

Oliveira's appointment comes at a critical time in the aerospace industry, where a transition towards electric and hydrogen propulsion systems is underway. Oliveira's experience in innovative technologies is invaluable, having worked on Embraer's Energia program, where he contributed to the development of four variable-size aircraft concepts equipped with low-carbon propulsion systems, including electric, hydrogen fuel cells, bi-fuel gas turbines, and hybrid-electric systems. This experience is crucial for Beyond Aero, as the French aerospace company is specializing in hydrogen-electric propulsion, integrating fuel cells and batteries. Before leaving Embraer, Oliveira also led the expansion and relocation of the flight test operations for the E1 jets. In this role, he managed the selection and qualification of engineers and test pilots in Europe, specified the requirements for test track construction, flight data acquisition systems, telemetry, and flight support facilities.

Since March, Oliveira has been leading the efforts at Beyond Aero, focusing on defining, specifying, developing, and testing the clean sheet aircraft design. This clean-sheet design emphasizes hydrogen gas fuel cell technology, a testament to Oliveira's dedication to the aviation new era. His expertise ensures the aircraft meets all certification standards and production requirements. Oliveira's belief aligns perfectly with Beyond Aero's vision that the future of aviation is electric.