De Havilland extends simplified conversion for Dash 8s
De Havilland has obtained regulatory approval from Transport Canada for its Dash 8-100, -200 and -300 Simplified Package Freighter conversion that features a stripped-out passenger cabin without seats.
The manufacturer developed the conversion program as a solution to the lack of airfreight capacity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and allows operators to make better use of passenger aircraft that would otherwise be idled due to route cutbacks. The largest member of the Dash 8 family, the -400, was approved in April and launched with Canada-based Jazz Aviation, which ordered conversion kits for up to thirteen aircraft.
Kenya-based 748 Air Services has ordered conversion kits for four Dash 8-100s and three Dash 8-400s to become the first operator of the Dash 8-100 Simplified Package Freighter. The carrier has already begun flying aircraft in the new, simplified freighter configuration to transport cargo —such as humanitarian shipments — around Africa and updated at least one of its Dash 8-100s (62, ex-Blue Bird Aviation) with “748 Air Cargo Solutions” branding.
De Havilland sees great potential in Africa for the Simplified Package Freighter, given the number of operators and aircraft across the region. Kenya is home to around five airlines operating Dash 8s.
The removal of seats and seat-track covers from the passenger cabins of Dash 8-100/200s and Dash 8-300s results in cargo capacities of up to 6,500 and 9,625 pounds respectively, while the Dash 8-400 Simplified Package Freighter is capable of up to 17,960 pounds, according to De Havilland.
Aircraft manufacturers and MRO specialists have been developing a number of temporary freighter conversions during the pandemic, including Airbus, which recently began offering a reconfiguration package for A330s and A350s with seats removed and pallets secured to the seat rails. ATR announced a light cargo conversion with partners AKKA and PMV Engineering that allows airlines to quickly modify passenger ATR 72 aircraft to carry four to five tonnes of cargo by removing all seats.
Additionally, Montreal-based Avianor worked with Air Canada to remove 422 seats from each of three 777-300ERs (41525, 43249 and 43251), while Lufthansa Technik, which converted four A330-300s for Lufthansa, said it has received inquiries for its modification from more than forty airlines, and even announced a deal to modify an A380.
