A record week for Precision Aircraft Solutions

It has been a good week for Precision Aircraft Solutions.

In the last seven days the US-based passenger-to-freighter conversion specialist redelivered four freighter-converted 757-200PCFs, converted at four different MROs, to three different customers.

And not only was it a record week, but, if our count is correct, the third of those four redeliveries marked Precision’s fiftieth 757 conversion. Given the current demand for 757 freighters, we expect that Precision’s second fifty conversions will roll out in about one-third the time it took for the first fifty.

The four redeliveries included two for SF Airlines (the air arm of China-based SF Express), one for DHL Express, and one for US-based lessor Vx Capital Partners.

• SF Airlines: The two units redelivered to SF were 26278 and 30757 (both ex-Thomas Cook Airlines). 26278 was converted in the US at the Aeroturbine facility in Goodyear (GYR), while conversion of 30757 was performed at Air China Technics’ Chengdu Aircraft Maintenance Base (CTU). SF Airlines now operates thirteen 757-200Fs, and Cargo Facts believes it has as many as ten more on order, several of which are currently in conversion. In addition to the 757 freighters, the SF fleet also includes three 737-400Fs and eight 737-300Fs. SF also has five 767-300BCF passenger-to-freighter conversions on firm order with Boeing, and is rumored to be in negotiations with the US manufacturer about an order for up to twenty-five 767-300 production freighters.

• DHL Express: Precision redelivered unit 29380 (ex-Nordwind Airlines) to DHL following conversion at the Flightstar facility in Jacksonville (VQQ). Through its majority-owned subsidiary carriers DHL operates forty-three 757-200Fs, but the total is likely over fifty when aircraft operated for DHL by third-party carriers are included. Of the forty-three 757 frieghters in DHL’s owned fleets, thirty-one older units are slated to be scrapped and replaced by newly-converted units. Cargo Facts believes that Precision is the likely source of these conversions.

• Vx Capital Partners: Vx is relatively new to the 757 conversion game, and is better known for its presence in the 737 market. Cargo Facts believes the current redelivery of unit 25397 (ex-United Airlines) was the company’s first 757 conversion. The conversion work was performed at the HAECO Americas facility in Greensboro (GSO).

In addition to the four MRO facilities that converted the above aircraft, Precision also uses the HAECO facility in Xiamen, China (XMN), and has a total of seven lines available at the five facilities. And to provide some insight into the current demand for Precision’s 757-200PCF, the company has nine aircraft currently inducted for conversion — which means that not only are all seven lines going full speed, but that aircraft are parked outside the doors, waiting their turn.