From the Cockpit with C Cubed’s Sagi

California-based C Cubed Aerospace has been working on its prototype A320-200CCF aircraft at the Alta Aero Technic facility in Kansas City (MCI) since late 2019 and is set to become the second company to obtain certification for an A320 freighter conversion program. Cargo Facts caught up with Executive Chairman Brian Sagi to discuss the state of C Cubed’s program and A320 Family conversions generally. Cargo Facts : What’s the status of your A320-200CCF conversion? Brian Sagi: Like every conversion program, we’ve had some delays, mostly as a result of pandemic-related supply chain issues. We’re looking now at finishing the touch labor on the conformity aircraft around the beginning of this summer and getting the supplemental type certificate (STC) in the fall. We are also expecting to induct our first A321 in the next couple of months. The C Cubed A321 STC is an extension of the A320 STC and the two conversions are nearly identical. We aim to complete the A321 around nine months after induction. CF : How has customer interest in the A320 changed since 2020? BS : Well, I think that with COVID, we’re definitely seeing interest from several angles that probably didn’t exist before. For example, you have carriers that have had only passenger operations and with COVID have been supplementing that with maybe some passenger-freighter operations. This got them a foothold in the cargo market. Now they want to take their light “freighters” and upgrade to an actual freighter. We’re seeing a lot of interest from these types of carriers and that’s certainly something we didn’t see before. The other effect of COVID was, of course, a fairly rapid acceleration in the adoption of e-commerce, so we’re seeing that type of demand as well. I think the fact that Airbus narrowbody freighters are able to carry more containers than 737-800 freighters is a big contributor to that as well. CF : How is the difference in capabilities from the 737-800 reflected in the interest from operators and lessors? BS : I think the market has misunderstood the A320 for many years. Some people think that the A320 is a niche airplane like the 737-700, “stuck” between the 737 Classics and the 737-800, and it’s not really going to find a market. With the C Cubed conversion, what they’re seeing is that even if we compare the A320-200F and the 737-800F from a maindeck-only perspective, they are equivalent: twelve pallet positions and equivalent payload. But the A320-200CCF carries an additional seven containers in the lower hold. That translates into nearly 30% more containerized cargo. In addition, A320 Family freighters can interlink with passenger Airbus narrowbodies, which helps operators create efficient route structures that are not possible with the Boeing family. CF : As you begin to plan for post-certification ramp up, what will be different? BS : Our present supply chain is mostly North America-based. As we transition to production conversions, we’re shifting to a global supply chain. You have different requirements for parts you’re making for a prototype and parts you’re making for production. For a prototype, you’re looking for shops that can do very small batches with quick turnaround where if there’s a need for rework, they can do that. For production, you’re looking at higher volumes and you are more price-sensitive. Some suppliers that supply your prototype parts are also capable of supplying production parts in volume but some are not. So right now we’re in the process of setting up our production supply chain and it is global. CF : Are you also looking at other MRO facilities to expand your capacity? BS : Yes, that’s right. Essentially, we’re working hard to transition into production. Apart from transitioning our supply chain, that also includes adding MROs. We’re looking to sign up additional MROs worldwide. We’re in negotiations and will be securing more MROs later this year. This story originally appeared in the March 2022 issue of Cargo Facts. Cargo Facts EMEA will take place LIVE May 9-11 in Dubai. Learn more and register.

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