First A320 is delivered to EFW for conversion to freighter configuration

Netherlands-based lessor AerCap delivered the first of up to thirty A320 passenger aircraft to EFW’s Dresden facility for conversion to freighter configuration.

According to a report on the Flightglobal website, actual conversion work will not begin until November of this year. In the meantime, EFW (the conversion arm of European aerospace giant EADS) will conduct a variety of tests. AerCap is the launch customer for the program, which is being overseen by recently-formed Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH.

The prototype aircraft (msn 211) is a CFM56-powered, 1991-build unit that has been operated by a variety of carriers including Air Inter, Air France, Air Prishtina, MyAir, and most recently by Tunisair.

Following conversion and certification, EFW will redeliver the A320 in freighter configuration to Sweden-based West Atlantic in 2012, with two more to follow by mid-2013. West Atlantic, which was formed from the 2008 merger of West Air Sweden, West Air Europe, and UK-based Atlantic Airlines, operates close to forty turboprop ATP Freighters, as well as two CRJ-200s in package-freighter configuration, and a single 737-300F.