Cargo Facts
SUBSCRIBE
  • NEWS
  • DATA
  • MULTIMEDIA
  • MAGAZINE
    • Issue Archive
    • Weekly Update
  • PODCAST
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Aircraft Leasing
  • Capacity & Demand
  • Carriers
  • E-Commerce
  • Engines
  • Express
  • Freighter Aircraft
  • Freighter Conversions
Cargo Facts
  • NEWS
  • DATA
  • MULTIMEDIA
  • MAGAZINE
    • Issue Archive
    • Weekly Update
  • PODCAST
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
Log In
No Result
View All Result
Cargo Facts
No Result
View All Result

Conversion conundrums

David Harris by David Harris
October 29, 2015
in Freighter Conversions
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

Installation of New Floor StructureThe 2015 edition of the Cargo Facts Aircraft Symposium is officially over, and the speakers, delegates, and sponsors are flying back to their homes in Asia, Europe, and North and South America.

We will publish a full report on the Symposium, the most successful and enjoyable in recent memory, in the next issue of Cargo Facts, but for today we look at a couple of questions that arose during the sessions devoted to the freighter conversion market. Questions to which the answers seem to be confusing, at best.

First, on the widebody side of things, some of the issues many expected to be contentious turned out to be almost non-issues, as the panelists were in general agreement.

  • The death of freighters? Hardly.
  • Main-deck vs belly? We need both.
  • Aircraft age limits a threat to conversions? Not a problem.

This last one led to the general subject of widebody freighter conversions, and the more specific question of “We’ve got programs in place for the medium widebody 767 and A330, but what about large widebodies? What comes next?” The obvious answer, of course, is the 777, and while no programs have been formally launched, speakers representing both Boeing and Bedek/IAI confirmed that their companies were actively working on passenger-to-freighter conversion programs for the 777-200ER.

So far, so good. But the following morning, during a session featuring a panel of appraisers, moderator Bert van Leuwen put up a slide devoted to the current and future values of, and conversion prospects for, the 777-200ER. Across the top of the slide, above the chart showing the panel members’ opinions regarding value, was a line of bold type, in red, with words to the effect of “Conversion potential? Unanimous panel opinion: None.”

In the discussion that followed, the appraisers all agreed that while P-to-F conversion of the 777 would pose tremendous technical challenges, there was no question that these challenges could be overcome. But they also all agreed that a 777-200ER freighter, whether from Boeing or Bedek, was an aircraft for which there would be no buyers.

More than a slight gulf there.

Narrowbody conversion landscapeNow, on to the narrowbody market. We start by going back to the widebody panel, during which Moshe Haimovich, IAI/Bedek’s Director, Marketing and Business Development, announced that the company was working on a conversion program for the Airbus A320 and A321. Not formally launched, but under strong consideration.

Fast forward to the session devoted to narrowbody freighters, during which Gary Warner, President of Precision Aircraft Solutions, hinted (more than once) that Precision was working on a new program which would ramp up as its current 757-200 P-to-F program wound down. This new program is several years into the future, of course, and there was no mention of a specific aircraft type under consideration, but, let’s assume, for purpose of this discussion, that it will be the narrowbody aircraft closest in size to the 757 which Precision currently offers. That leaves us with a future narrowbody conversion landscape that is more crowded than Century Link Field during a Seattle Seahawks game.

One should not take the chart above too seriously. PEMCO, for example, has said 737NG programs are “in development”, but there is no guarantee that any will be launched. Same for Precision — Mr. Warner said the next program was under serious study, but that does not mean it will be launched. And if Precision does launch a new program it may turn out to be something other than an A321 (it could be even be a widebody). And while Boeing has granted its sales force authority to offer a 737-800 P-to-F conversion, formal launch will probably require more than the 15-unit order recently announced by YTO Express Airlines.

But even if not all of the programs shown in the chart above are launched, the field will still be impossibly crowded, particularly in the middle of the size range. Is there anyone in the air freight business who believes that eleven programs can successfully compete for A320, 737-800, and A321 freighter conversions?

 

 

Tags: AEIBoeingFreighter conversionIAIPacAviPrecision Aircraft SolutionsST Engineering
Previous Post

US Ex-Im bank closer to reauthorization

Next Post

Top Secret

Related Posts

SpiceJet looks to double freighter fleet
Carriers

SpiceJet looks to double freighter fleet

April 21, 2021
Cargo Facts Asia: Amid conversion line scarcity, STC holders and MROs add capacity with caution
Freighter Conversions

Cargo Facts Asia: Amid conversion line scarcity, STC holders and MROs add capacity with caution

April 21, 2021
Cargo Facts Asia: Conversion slot limits hinder widebody freighter fleet expansions
Freighter Conversions

Cargo Facts Asia: Conversion slot limits hinder widebody freighter fleet expansions

April 20, 2021
Next Post

Top Secret

Comments 1

  1. Christian Degouy says:
    5 years ago

    Hello from Switzerland,

    It would add value to the readers to include the ATR Large Cargo Door and Structural Tube conversion Programm . The first two conversion are on going at ASI Maintenance in Toulouse following the acquisition by IPR Conversions of Alenia STCs.

    I remain at your disposal if you need information on this exciting Programm,

    Best regards,

    Christian

    ________________________________________

    IPR Invest SA
    Christian Degouy
    Managing Owner

    Av. Gratta-Paille 2
    CH-1018 Lausanne
    Switzerland

    Tel +41 79 334 13 22 mobile
    Email [email protected]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Get Latest Issue

CARGO FACTS CONSULTING

Amazon commits to 15 more 737-800BCFs, GECAS confirms role as lessor

CFC: Amazon air network spend exceeds $1B per year as dedicated fleet grows

March 19, 2021
4 airlines that could end up with NCA’s 747-400Fs

Japanese air exports up in December and January, imports down

March 3, 2021
  • About Us
  • Help Center
  • Privacy Terms
  • ADA Compliance
  • Advertise

Follow Us

twitter twitter linkedin podcast

© 2021 Royal Media & Cargo Facts

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All News
    • Aircraft Leasing
    • Capacity & Demand
    • Carriers
    • E-Commerce
    • Engines
    • Express
    • Freighter Aircraft
    • Freighter Conversions
  • Data
  • Multimedia
  • Magazine
    • Issues Archive
  • Podcast
  • Events
  • Consulting
  • Subscribe
  • Log In / Account

© 2021 Royal Media & Cargo Facts

Go to mobile version