Air Cargo Carriers eyes growth with ATRs and Dash 8s

Wisconsin-based Air Cargo Carriers is looking to expand its regional operations beyond the Short 360 platform and intends to begin the Part 121 certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration later this year.

Air Cargo Carriers, the largest operator of Short 360 freighters, confirmed to Cargo Facts that it currently has twenty-eight of the type, having added four units in 2021, and expects to add around two more in 2022.

Although Air Cargo Carriers developed and owns the freighter conversion supplemental type certificate for the Short 360 and sees the potential to acquire around twenty additional units around the world, with another ten to fifteen years of parts support, the company is interested in both ATRs and Dash 8s as its next feeder platform of choice.

Chairman Jim Germek and President Steven Altnau told Cargo Facts that Air Cargo Carriers had evaluated ATRs back in 1998 or 1999 but integrator demand was not sufficient to support the type at the time. Now, however, the carrier sees opportunities — both with the integrators and on its own — to grow its operations and either of the two types it is evaluating will enable missions beyond approximately 400 miles.

A key area of potential growth is the Caribbean, particularly given the development of inter-island trade and fewer passenger widebodies flying in and out, Germek and Altnau said. This includes not just the islands but also places as far south as Guyana.

Germek and Altnau said that the ATR 42 bulk freighter may be preferable for its cargo configuration, but the Dash 8 is the preferred option because of the availability of frames and spares.

There are various options when it comes to Dash 8 package freighters, including with Cascade Aerospace and Voyageur Aviation. Meanwhile, Collins Aerospace and Air Inuit are nearing certification of the first Q300F conversion with a large cargo door.

Germek and Altnau said Air Cargo Carriers will likely make a decision soon and have the first aircraft on property in the next few months, with at least five or six more possibly following later in 2022.

With the Part 135 carrier planning to start the Part 121 certification process this year, Air Cargo Carriers can initially deploy the ATRs or Dash 8s on Part 135 operations to gain operational experience before moving them to Part 121 services, Germek and Altnau said.

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