EFW says the air cargo market has experienced increasing demand. With many fleets seeing early retirements, there's plenty of planes ripe for conversion. For the remaining proportion each individual aircraft (eg. Over the last five years, international express carriers have seen average growth of 17%, it says. Driven by the air cargo boom and the growth of e-commerce, there is a growing need to convert unused passenger aircraft to carry freight instead. From the carnage of Covid-19, passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions are emerging as a rare growth sector thanks to a combination of factors. The A330P2F programme has two variants the A330-200P2F and A330-300P2F. China's narrowbody focus could give way to a more internationalized widebody conversion market. Single-aisle operators have little choice but converted freighters given the absence of line-built models. "We estimate that most slots are sold for 2021 and. Space-efficient door configuration Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Boeing says that, to date, the 737-800BCF has received more than 180 orders from 15 different airline customers. PAS and ATSG have a long-term relationship. 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. Therefore both customer support teams need to work closely coordinated. Our CG (center of gravity) optimised conversion design results in a well . Clearly it is the absence of belly-hold capacity that is keeping rates buoyant. Nevertheless, we expect that air cargo, and the ancillary services relating to it, will increasingly become an integral part of the aviation industry and a complementary piece to the usual passenger services. Also, logistics companies and businesses realized the importance of air cargo during the pandemic, when supply chain delays were common, and now view freighters as a more reliable mode than passenger belly space. The aircraft (MSN 32789) will become the first ever B777 converted into a freighter configuration and marks the launch of the "Big Twin" programme announced last October. Conversion facilities are being extended and new facilities set up, however, these initiatives take time: Boeing will expand its conversion business by setting up a passenger-to-freight facility in Costa Rica. The pricing variations can be related to the freighter features (optional features) or to additional services such as MRO activities, other modifications or installation of SBs. @FreeMan Yes, as D check. Covid-19 has strongly affected the aerospace industry. Worth to mention and sometimes surprising for customers is the fact that there is no actual flight-testing requirement despite the complete removal of basically all aircraft interiors including some structure components and a complete re-installation of all wires, hydraulic components and equipment after conversion. . 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. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. googletag.enableServices(); . We look forward to helping Boeing meet market demand with the technical quality and skilled workforce that has characterized COOPESA in its 58 years of operation.. We examine what makes this aircraft operationally unique, as well as the technical and conversion considerations for operators who plan to bring this type into their fleets. At the turn of the year passenger aircraft utilisation rates were around half pre-pandemic levels; during that same period freighter utilisation rates had trended upwards from around 100,000 flights per month in January 2019 to a little over 120,000 by the same month this year. CTKs have climbed consistently over the last 12 months, save for the annual post-Christmas slump. While no figures are officially available, IBA estimates the conversion cost of a 2005-built 777-300ER to be around $32.5 million. Kalitta Air is set to be the launch operator of the aircraft, receiving its first example on lease from GECAS in 2023. 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. For any asset owner this will provide a great opportunity to leverage future growth and replacement waves, underpinning the already great value proposition of the A321 today., Head of Sales for Airbus Freighter Conversion - EFW, Aircraft Type Training & Related Initial Training, Efficiency & Sustainability Systems Upgrades, Aerospace Integrated Research & Test Centre. Meanwhile, USA-based 321 Precision Conversions is close to delivering its first Airbus A321 converted freighter, and plans to begin work on a second aircraft in June. 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 prospects for the Airbus narrowbody will be aided by a choice of engines, allowing operators to avoid over-reliance on one manufacturer. }); EFW has delivered 16 passenger-to-freighter conversions of single-aisle aircraft, including one A320 a slightly smaller sister to the A321 so far. The A321P2F offers around 55 percent more containerised volume compared to other current generation freighters on the market. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. Furthermore, access to the B737s lower-hold is constrained due to its smaller and inwards-opening doors. EFW's first ever A321P2F conversion, that flew in 2020. Simone Funk, Aerospace Competence Manager Global Air Logistics. Elbe Flugzeugwerke continues to increase its capabilities. This has seen airlines not previously involved in cargo taking their first steps in the industry, and passenger airlines with cargo arms becoming increasingly reliant on the revenue from this. Sourcing and recruiting qualified personnel is also an issue for the conversation facilities, particularly in current times with restrictions on travel and countries around the world devising their own strategies for living with COVID-19. Overall air cargo rates remain at elevated levels because of stronger demand and an ongoing capacity crunch caused by a reduction in belly-hold services, says Damian Brett, editor of FlightGlobals sister publication Air Cargo News. Seattle airframer is adding a new 737 conversion line in South America. Contacts. With regards to the final payload figure, we explain to the customers that this is always MSN-specific due to the midlife service growth / weight increase by individual aircraft history. We also highlight the A320 Familys unique cargo belly hold (ie lower deck) which allows for mixed-fleet operation and interlining between Airbus single-aisle passenger aircraft and freighters, which is a significant operational and commercial advantage for airlines. In fact, IATA data for March shows a record for air cargo, with cargo tonne kilometres (CTKs) flown 4.4% above the same month in 2019 well before Covid-19 appeared. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/fw-responsive-main_content-slot2', [[728, 90], [468, 60], [320, 50], [300, 100]], 'div-gpt-ad-1665767737710-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).addService(googletag.pubads()); To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Indeed, in April this year rates on the Hong Kong-North America lane spiked to $8.48/kg, higher even than the $7.73/kg seen in May last year, driven upwards by reduced capacity due to stricter quarantine regulations in Hong Kong. It also expects to establish production lines in China and the United States for the A330 reconfiguration in 2022. 757 is likely to remain popular as ex-passenger jets become available. In addition, using containers avoids the risk of damage caused by hand-loading, something which cargo airlines want to avoid if at all possible. 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. Airframe overhaul facilities are scrambling to keep up with the demand for converting used passenger jets into dedicated cargo jets. googletag.enableServices(); How much does the transformation cost compared to a D-check? In turn this necessitates the original door-surround structures to be removed and re-skinned, while the doors themselves are replaced by a simplified Crew Entry Door (CED) and the lavatory is replaced by a new one re-located to the right-hand side. "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. Aerospace. 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. Nevertheless, there can still be some unavoidable differences between candidate feedstock aircraft, for example if the new P2F fleet is being created from six A321s purchased from airline X and four A321s purchased from airline Y which will likely comprise aircraft originally from different production batches. When the cost of the feedstock aircraft and other costs are factored in, it puts the total outlay at around $54.5 million for an aircraft that will be able to carry a little over 100t. Stay informed:Sign up for ourdailyandweeklyaviation news digests. Providing commentary for outlets including the BBC, CNBC, Reuters Thomson, and others, she works closely with IATA, AviaDev, and various airlines and suppliers to get the inside track on the global marketplace. googletag.defineSlot('/21776187881/FW_Super_Leaderboard', [[300, 50], [970, 90], [300, 100], [728, 90]], 'div-gpt-ad-1668097889433-0').defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner2).addService(googletag.pubads()); Ethan Tanis an experienced aviation lawyer with deep expertise in aviation finance as well as all varieties of aviation-related work. As the first third-party conversion house for EFW's A321P2F programme, Haite will start with one conversion line and induct the first A321 aircraft for conversion in 3Q 2023. GECAS and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) today announced the launch of the Boeing 777-300ERSF, and the establishment of a passenger to freighter conversion program. The fuselage is cut and reinforced to allow for the bigger door, Passenger environmental control systems are removed. for interlining with smaller freighters such as the BAE146/AvroRJ). (Useful to have an idea of D-check costs.). Cash receipts from government payroll support programs, which are included in operating cash flows, were $0 and $83.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Out with the old EFW has secured new orders for converted A321. CAM expects to convert and lease 30 such aircraft by 2028, two-thirds of . Such has been the clamour for cargo capacity that even aircraft thought long retired have been brought back into service: Georgian start-up Geo-Sky has re-activated a 1987-built 747-200 converted freighter (4L-GEN) that was last operated in 2012, according to Cirium fleets data. How much does a D-check cost compared to a new aircraft? Learn more. It also has an A330 production facility in Dresden. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. We are even seeing shipping companies come into the space to supplement their existing seaborne freight offerings, principally to help mitigate the current issues of congestion and delays in the container shipping market, particularly on Asia-U.S. routes where there are no land-based alternatives. While no figures are officially available, IBA estimates the conversion cost of a 2005-built 777-300ER to be around $32.5 million. What will it take to Decarbonise Aviation? While the P2F process itself does not require any WV change, WV upgrades/downgrades can be performed on customers request if a particular feedstock airframe has that WV option. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Ticket smash for [status-review] tag: Part Deux. 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 . . More in this A330-300/-200 P2F brochure (PDF). Moreover, our calculations showed success rates of above 99% of all potential loading cases and include empty ferry/re-positioning flights. For instance, the EFW A321 P2F conversion programme was launched in 2015, with a launch order secured two years later. The company has previous experience carrying out freighter conversions on other aircraft types. CII whats the impact on the shipping industry? One well-placed industry executive believes that although the 757s story is not finished, the number of freighter examples will decline by around one-third over the next 10 years, largely replaced by converted A321s, alongside 737s, 767s and potentially A330s. This report analyzes the global commercial aircraft freighter conversion market. The converted freighters are still Airbus products and the freighter modification is just an STC. Typically the RJ100 can be bought for between $1.5m and the freighter kit and conversion would cost between $2.2 and 2.8m. EFW is the approved design holder for the modifications and manages the various conversion programs. EFW has been producing the A321 aftermarket freighter for 2 1/2 years. The 757 continues to dominate the larger narrowbody space, says IBA; an additional 20 examples are pending conversion having been retired from passenger roles, it says, adding to the 298 units in operation as freighters at February 2021. What are some tools or methods I can purchase to trace a water leak? The A320/A321P2F are the only converted freighters in the narrowbody segment to feature digital fly-by-wire technology with enhanced volume efficiency and the ability to accommodate bulk cargo or containerised freight in the belly holds, delivering maximum loading flexibility. Many also envision it as a replacement for the Boeing 757, a large narrowbody jet that is increasingly scarce and approaching the end of its life cycle. The A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion is the first freighter aircraft in its size category to offer containerised loading in both the main (up to 14 full container positions) and lower deck (up to 10 container positions). Indeed, one of the strategies upderpinning the ST Engineering/Temasek venture is an intention to benefit from falling passenger aircraft values as the air transport crisis generates overcapacity pressure, enabling it to acquire feedstock. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 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. 2,430 aircraft will be delivered, around 50% of which will replace current inventory. Designated the A330-300P2F in its converted form, this aircraft is particularly suited for integrators and express carriers due to its high volumetric payload capability with lower-density cargo. Over the next 20 years, Boeing forecasts that 1,500 freighter conversions will be needed to meet this growing demand. Why was the nose gear of Concorde located so far aft? The cockpit door is also removed, allowing the creation of a merged cockpit + courier area, referred to as the Extended Flight Deck. window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; If this is not the case upgrades can be installed which can be coordinated with Airbus and EFWs respective upgrade services teams. Figures released in early 2021 by consultancy IBA show the stark contrast between passenger and freighter aircraft operations. Desktop computers and computer software used to be sent by air. 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. How much does it cost to ground a B737 max aircraft for an airline? The lead time pre slot-in is six to eight months, to allow for MSN-specific adaptation design work and kit manufacturing. Sanctions briefing looking back at 2022 and whats on the horizon for 2023? For instance, Boeing revealed it will in 2022 set up a P2F conversion facility for 737-800s in Costa Rica the first such operation in South America while Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will in 2024 establish a modification line in Seoul, South Korea for 777-200LRs and -300ERs. Or not. How much does the design, implementation, test and certification of a Passenger-to-Freighter Conversion cost? Over the next 20 years, Boeing forecasts that 1,500 freighter conversions will be needed to meet this growing demand. Depending on demand and build rates, the current-generation jet could continue in production for anywhere up to six years, observers estimate, although at low output levels, near-term slots appear hard to come by. Thanks for contributing an answer to Aviation Stack Exchange! When the cost of the feedstock aircraft and other costs. COOPESA will become the fourth location where the popular 737-800 is converted to carry cargo. 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. The conversion design is based on the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) process, like it was for the previous generation A300/A310P2F and the current A330P2F. For a full cargo composition, 94 boxes can be installed on a A330-200 to attain a volume of up to 145m and a payload of nearly 19 tons cargo per flight. The passenger aircraft's modification Read More. Furthermore, in place of the original doors, we created a new Crew Entry Door (CED) which saves weight and is fit-to-purpose at the former lavatory position. All 24 of these aircraft are powered by Rolls-Royce RB211-535 engines, making this fleet the narrow-body freighter of choice due to its attractive payload, range and cost of ownership characteristics. 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