First flight of the A330-300P2F

Late last week, EFW conducted a successful six-hour test flight of the first freighter-converted A330-300.

This was actually the second flight, as the freighter did take off the day before, but, in the face of unfavorable conditions during Windstorm Xavier, landed after only a few minutes. Several more test flights have followed, and EFW says it expects supplemental type certification by the end of 2017.

EFW, a 55/45 joint venture of ST Aerospace and Airbus, launched the A330 passenger-to-freighter conversion program, for both the -200 and -300 variants, in 2012, but it was some time before either program gained traction. However, with Egyptair signing on as launch customer for the -200P2F in 2014, and DHL signing an A330-300P2F launch order in 2016, the dawn of the A330 conversion era is upon us.

Here is a timeline of the EFW A330 Family conversion program to date:

• December 2014: Egyptair signs a firm order for two A330-200P2F  conversions, plus two options.

• July 2016: DHL signs a firm order for four A330-300P2F conversions.

• July 2016: The first A330-300 (116, ex-Malaysia Airlines) is inducted for conversion at Dresden (DRS).

• April 2017: Egyptair ferries A330-200 to DRS.

• June 2017: DHL firm orders four more A330-300P2F conversions, plus 10 options.

• December 2016: A second A330-300 (127, ex-Hi Fly) is inducted at DRS.

• June 2017: With EFW’s Dresden facility at capacity, the above second A330-300 is ferried to ST Aero’s Paya Lebar (QPG) facility.

• October 2017: First flight  of A330-300P2F at DRS.

• End 2017: EFW says it expects award of STC for A330-300P2F by the end of this year.