Ascent receives first World Star 777-300ER for IAI conversion

Ascent Aviation Services has received its first World Star Aviation 777-300ER for conversion at its expanded facility in Marana, Ariz., according to a release.

This marks the launch of Ascent’s North American 777-300ER conversion operation.

The aircraft will undergo modification at Ascent’s Pinal Air Park campus, where the MRO provider will operate two 777-300ERSF conversion lines under a long-term agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries.

A photo provided by IAI shows the aircraft is a 2008 vintage 777-300ER previously operated by EVA Air. Aircraft-history records show it arrived at Marana on July 29.

The conversion launch follows completion of two purpose-built, 90,000-square-foot widebody hangars at Marana (AVW). The $70 million investment triples hangar capacity at the facility and expands Ascent’s heavy maintenance and widebody modification capabilities, the companies said in the release.

“Together with Ascent Aviation Services, we are expanding production capacity and bringing our conversion capabilities closer to customers in the region,” Yaacov Berkovitz, executive vice president and general manager of aviation for IAI, said in the release.

World Star’s relationship with IAI’s widebody conversion business dates to the 747-200P2F program in the 1990s. The release said that relationship and IAI’s experience with 747 and 767 conversions is why the lessor selected the 777-300ERSF.

The companies did not provide a production ramp-up schedule or annual conversion target.