Assessment China's narrowbody focus could give way to a more internationalized widebody conversion market. The aircraft will undergo modification by the EFW joint venture which is run by ST Engineering and Airbus. Interest in our A321P2F conversion solution has been on a significant rise over the past year, says chief executive Andreas Sperl. The Ancra-produced CLS chosen by EFW for the A321/A320P2F can support industry standard Unit Load Device (ULD) containers other than the 88inch x 125inch containers on option such as the 96inch x125inch containers. Guide to Business Aviation Training and Safety 2022. Mammoth Freighters, a U.S.-based startup gearing up to modify large 777 aircraft, last year secured production facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, and the U.K. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. 2,430 aircraft will be delivered, around 50% of which will replace current inventory. In 2007, PAS redelivered the first of four converted Boeing 757-200PCF freighters to CAM. Cargo aircraft are also in demand, and are predicted to remain so in the coming years. This is thanks to its 14 full size 88inch x 125inch main deck positions plus another 10 lower deck AKH container positions. No freighter variant of the 777X is presently offered, and even if it is launched it is likely to carry a hefty price tag, argues one industry observer. Converting a Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft into a freighter: GECAS - General Electric Capital Aviation Services, the finance arm of the conglomerate General Electric and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has now passed the planned halfway phase of the Development Program for the 777-300ERSF. The UKs ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions from aviation will be hugely expensive and require enormous quantities of agricultural land or renewable electricity to produce future fuels in sufficient quantities, a new study warns. EFW's first ever A321P2F conversion, that flew in 2020. Through our joint venture with Airbus, Elbe Flugzeugwerke, we are one of the worlds largest and most experienced solution providers for freighter conversion, and have redelivered over 400 aircraft through our Passenger-to-Freighter programmes since 1996. This allows us to locate the rigid cargo barrier at this position. Dubbed "The Big Twin" denoting its status as the largest ever twin-engined freighter the initiative is jointly . EFW has delivered 16 passenger-to-freighter conversions of single-aisle aircraft, including one A320 a slightly smaller sister to the A321 so far. Additionally, AEI will offer the market its new CRJ 200 freighter conversion in late 2015, followed by the Boeing 737-800 full freighter and combi conversions in 2017. Seattle airframer is adding a new 737 conversion line in South America. Plus, I learned a new word! Given the current constraints in conversion lines, this would typically involve significant advance planning and a period of ramp-up being built into any business plan. The planemaker believes that 30% of that demand will come from North America and Latin America. Furthermore, access to the B737s lower-hold is constrained due to its smaller and inwards-opening doors. Higher fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs; Our optimised conversion design results in a well-balanced freighter that requires tremendously less trimming which, according to Airbus' route . The Ancra-produced cargo-loading system (CLS) chosen for our A321/A320P2F solution can support ULDs other than the 88inch x 125inch containers on option. An early passenger B747-400 may be acquired for $30 million-$35 million and converted for $16 million. Depending on the Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) the original passenger floor structure may be replaced by stronger cross beams and/or be partially reinforced. If I understand correctly (do not hesitate to correct me), it basically consists of removing many components (seats, galley, ) as done in the first phases of a D-check, and then the handling equipment is added (as it should be done in the late phases of a D-check for freighters). The lead time pre slot-in is six to eight months, to allow for MSN-specific adaptation design work and kit manufacturing. Conversions are being driven by the growth of e-commerce which has been boosted by more online deliveries during lockdowns, it notes. Please select at least one category to subscribe to. Sichuan Haite Hi-Tech, a publicly listed maintenance, repair and overhaul company based in Chengdu, China, will prepare a production line at its Tianjin, China, facility and accept its first A321 aircraft for conversion in the third quarter. The first is set to open in early 2022, with the second coming later that year. "Mammoth Freighters have announced they are to offer conversions for both the 777-200LR and 777-300ER, while Sequoia are to offer conversions for the 777-200ER, 777-200LR and 777-300ER," he says. Smart Surveillance, Advisory and Enforcement System, Cabin Interiors and Engineering Solutions, Data Platform Modernisation and Governance, Data Platform Modernisation, Security and Governance, Only Airbus P2F design in the world using OEM technical data, Higher fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs. This generates significant time and effort saving for trainees, but also cost savings as there is no need to organise examinations at the end of a lockdown and travel restriction period. Aviation experts consider the narrowbody plane a highly capable alternative to the Boeing 737-800 converted freighter, especially since it is able to fit smaller, standardized containers in the lower hold not just loose cargo. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); As a conversion house that has redelivered over 400 aircraft through its Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) programmes since 1996, ST Engineering is today one of the world's largest and most experienced solution providers for freighter conversion. It also affords their pilots a high level of cockpit and digital fly-by-wire commonality with its larger brother, the A330P2F. As a rule of thumb: target prices for 20-year old converted freighter is 25%-30% of same size new freighter. Last year, the company finished 19 conversions of the A320/321 and the larger A330 family. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot3', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767553440-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); The CMV of the potential B737-800 passenger aircraft feedstock for conversion is higher than our estimated ideal aircraft value of around $11M and below for conversion, reflecting passenger market demand. Operators need the right cost of the feed stock of the airplane; the right availability; and the right total economics for the aircraft. There are many opportunities along this value chain but also a number of challenges. Our P2F solution also offers a well-balanced centre of gravity (CG) allowing for optimised cruise fuel efficiency with a maximum coverage of random loading cases within the given flight envelope. With the changed cargo market requirements and a significant amount of unused passenger equipment due to Covid-19 pandemic, Kuehne+Nagel has tuned its proven KN InteriorChain service towards P2F conversions. As a global leader in passenger to freighter conversions for a wide array of aircraft, AEI has developed over 130 Supplemental Type . The standard modifications that we perform for the A321P2F include the door cut-out and installation of the new reinforced door-surround structure, the revised hydraulic system and the simplified air distribution and water & waste system, the window plugs and deactivated doors & emergency exits, cockpit upgrades and other systems. Between May 2020 and January 2021, a total of 30 converted 737-800 freighters were added to the global fleet. If not, what is the purpose of the structural cargo access door? How much does it cost to lease a jetliner? . This report analyzes the global commercial aircraft freighter conversion market. How much does it cost to ground a B737 max aircraft for an airline? CII whats the impact on the shipping industry? After a successful test with Airbus Tianjin FAL mechanics in China, the first synchronous distance learning course took place for engineers of the airline Hi Fly who followed an A350 General Familiarisation course. High containerised cargo volume Moreover, the fact that EFWs programme is the only OEM solution for A321P2F in the market also ensures lifecycle value, quality, reliability and ease of maintenance. Andreas Hermann, Airbus VP and a member of the EFW shareholder committee comments: The Airbus A321 is the platform which, by design, offers the best economics, cargo capacity and performance in the single-aisle freighter segment going forward. "We estimate that most slots are sold for 2021 and. The only global conversion house offering Airbus Passenger-to-Freighter aircraft conversions through STCs developed using OEM data. The addition of Haite will give EFW its fourth production lines for the narrowbody freighter. Kuehne+Nagel now offers a reliable end-to-end solution to manage conversions of retired passenger aircraft into a long-lasting freighter, so our customers can scale up their operations, reduce costs and boost cargo capacity. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? Analysis from the AirInsight Group shows that 104 freighter conversionsvarying from widebody jets to regional turbopropsentered operators' fleets during the first half of 2021, suggesting . But with the US Air Force having an eventual requirement for 179 KC-46 tankers, the orderbook will be periodically topped up over the coming years. Airframe overhaul facilities are scrambling to keep up with the demand for converting used passenger jets into dedicated cargo jets. Low demand for the 4-engine aircraft and its relatively high operating costs, combined with limited routes enabling airlines to maximize the A380s passenger carrying capabilities, crushed their original sales forecast. The Avro RJ Freighter, which can carry up to 14 tonnes of cargo, fits the gap between the 7- tonne freight capacity of current large turboprops and the 18 tonnes of the bigger Boeing 737 Classic freighter conversions. To help address the increasing demand for airfreight and capacity, we also have innovative short-term solutions for passenger aircraft operators who wish to carry more cargo per flight. As a modern jetliner with advanced Airbus technology that includes fly-by-wire flight controls, the A330-300 wide-body offers a highly capable platform for conversion into a freighter. Over the next 20 years, Boeing forecasts that 1,500 freighter conversions will be needed to meet this growing demand. Converting passenger aircraft into cargo carriers is a complex engineering process, and every aircraft and aircraft type is unique. Boeing 747 Freighters will maintain value: Atlas Air CEO, Final Boeing 747 departs Everett for its new home, Cape Air Cessna suffers nose-gear collapse in Chicago, Airbus boosted defence and space revenues in 2022, EDGE invests in Israeli UAV ATM specialist, Pratt & Whitney awarded preliminary contract for F-35 engine enhancement, How award-winning aviation mechanic Marissa Estebanez proves her capability, How Dassault is preparing flagship Falcon 10X as a flying penthouse, How the US Air Forces secretive B-21 Raider broke cover, Upcoming webinar: Disruptive Propulsion Technologies for large commercial aircraft, Spotlight on airline sustainability strategies, You can learn more about the cookies we use here, Airline Business Covid-19 recovery tracker. As of July 30, 2017, a total of 1,425 Airbus A321-200 passenger aircraft are in service. Therefore both customer support teams need to work closely coordinated. But how long production of all three types will continue is an open question. Jens Steinhagen, director of Boeing freighter conversions, commented on the announcement saying. With this in mind, most of our customers are electing that we at EFW and ST Engineering perform heavy maintenance checks in parallel to the freighter conversion process. Thanks for contributing an answer to Aviation Stack Exchange! Authors: Simon G. Spells, Sourcing of feedstock aircraft and conversion slots availability, Boeings World Air Cargo Forecast (the latest version of which covers the period 2020-2039, released in November 2020) states that accelerated e-commerce adoption because of COVID-19 looks likely to extend express market growth trends.. Elbe Flugzeugwerke continues to increase its capabilities. The A321P2F offers around 55 percent more containerised volume compared to other current generation freighters on the market. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); Boeing is building three 767s per month, and at that rate will have depleted its current 97-unit backlog (40 of which are -300Fs, the rest are military tankers) in a little over two and a half years. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Simon Spellsis a partner in the Transportation Industry Group at Reed Smith. It is available with specially designed blended winglets to further improve efficiency, and can travel up to 1,995 NM even with a full load. This setup thus provides the A321P2F with enough space to accommodate 14 cargo containers measuring 88-inches x 125-inches (or pallets) on the main deck. Global Crossing, which is working to achieve US certification to begin passenger and cargo charter flights, will lease the jets from STs SuperJet International (SJI), the former joint venture between Italian firm Leonardo and Russias United Aircraft (UAC), is bidding to make an unlikely comeback, including plans to relaunch production of the SSJ100 regional jet at a new site in the United Arab Emirates. Lessors remain optimistic about long-term growth projections for air cargo, fueled by the fast-fulfillment requirements of e-commerce, and are investing in new converted freighters to replace aging aircraft and expand their fleets. #TIL: manutention. Many are keen to invest to hedge their existing passenger aircraft exposure, create new business lines around it, and/or build out their existing expertise (in the case of MROs/conversion specialists) to increase capacity and the range of conversion programs on offer. Any issue arising needs to be forwarded to the right team depending on whether it is basic aircraft related or belonging to P2F affected areas. Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (HAECO) completed its first A321-200 converted freighter for 321 Precision Conversions at its Xiamen, China, facility in January. In 2011, PAS developed, certified and produced a Boeing 757-200PCC combined passenger/freighter (combi) variant for CAM. For in-service support, it is essential for us to be closely aligned with Airbus Customer Support organisation. The bottleneck in the supply of passenger-to-freighter aircraft comes at the conversion stage, with the availability of slots at most major conversion facilities booked up until 2024, and in some instances until 2026. Examples: - Small: US$10-$12 million - Medium nnarrowbody: US$15-$20 million - Medium widebody: US$20-$30 million - Large: US$55-$65 million With many fleets seeing early retirements, there's plenty of planes ripe for conversion. . On the widebody side, a Boeing 767 will run something like $13.4-15.8m, while an A330 will range between $17.6m-18.4m and a 777-300ER conversion is estimated between $34-37m. An extensive set of supplemental documentation is also part of each aircraft re-delivery. MSN no.) Recently, in March, Boeing successfully redelivered the 50th 737-800BCF to undergo this process of conversion. Figures released in early 2021 by consultancy IBA show the stark contrast between passenger and freighter aircraft operations. As such, there appears to be a demand/supply equilibrium currently in terms of aircraft available for conversion. "Conversely, passenger aircraft utilisation fell from over 2.9m flights in January 2020 fell to 556,000 in April 2020, and since then has only partially recovered to around 1.5m flights in January 2021." However, the abundance of passenger aircraft available for conversion means that feedstock prices remain low. In IBAs view, the 737 will continue as the mainstay of the smaller narrowbody market, with conversion activity shifting to the -800 as feedstock availability of earlier 737 Classics dries up. Based on this source, an A330-300's heavy (D) check costs 3.8 million USD (adjusted for inflation from 2010 to 2018), and given the quoted conversion for the A333, it's ~4 times as much to do the conversion. Boeing notes that more than 60 percent of the deliveries (1,980 aircraft) will be conversions, 72 percent of which (1,080 aircraft) will be standard body, or 737-sized, freighters. For instance, the EFW A321 P2F conversion programme was launched in 2015, with a launch order secured two years later. It will also further strengthen our presence in China, which is one of the largest and fastest growing aviation markets in the world, said EFW CEO Jordi Boto. Eric is based in Portland, Oregon. By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. 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