9 freighter conversions still await certification

While IAI will undoubtedly seek STC validation from EASA and the Civil Aviation Administration of China for its newly certified 777-300ERSF , Cargo Facts believes seven companies working on at least nine other freighter conversion programs are hoping to obtain regulatory approval for the first time between now and the end of 2026. In fact, in addition to the 777-300ERSF, IAI has also been working on its first Airbus conversion. The company cut metal on its prototype A330-300BDSF (1574, ex-Air Europa) in July and then installed the cargo door surround structure on the 2014-vintage aircraft. IAI hopes that achieving FAA certification for the 777 will be more conducive in supporting its target STC timeframe in 2026 for the A330. Following is a list of the other freighter conversion projects expecting certification in the next fifteen months. Mammoth Freighters Mammoth Freighters is about to start formal certification flights with the FAA using its 2009-vintage prototype 777-200LRMF (29742, ex-Delta Air Lines). The company has installed cargo doors on five 777-200LRMFs and still expects to attain certification before the end of 2025, after which it intends to amend the STC by adding its 777-300ERMF conversion in the first quarter of next year. [caption id="attachment_57291425" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The prototype 777-200LRMF made its first post-conversion flight in May. (Courtesy/Mammoth Freighters)[/caption] Mammoth announced the launch of its 777-200LRMF and -300ERMF conversions in 2021. The launch operators will be Qatar Airways and BBN Airlines , respectively. KMC The third company working on converting 777s, KMC will soon cut the cargo door on its prototype 777-300ERCF . The 2008-vintage aircraft (37704, ex-Emirates) has been at McConnell Air Force Base (IAB) in Wichita, Kansas, since 2021 and belongs to launch customer Backbone Freighter Leasing . KMC had its certification plan approved by the FAA in 2023 after producing a full-scale cargo door demonstrator . The company had hoped to get its STC in 2024 but now expects it in 2026. C Cubed Aerospace C Cubed’s A320-200CCF program is the second conversion for the A320 after EFW certified its A320-200P2F in 2022. The company started ground testing its 2001-vintage prototype (1523, ex-Sky Airline) in late 2023, but the V2500-powered aircraft has yet to take to the air since arriving at the Alta Aero Technic facility in Kansas City, Mo. (MCI) in 2019. C Cubed also plans to certify and offer an A321-200CCF conversion but has not yet started work on the longer variant. IPR Conversions As an alternative to ATR’s production ATR 72-600F, IPR Conversions started working on its new large-cargo-door conversion for a passenger ATR 72-600 in the second half of 2024. The 2015-vintage prototype (1239, ex-Tsaradia) belongs to ACIA Aero Leasing, which in July announced that it would sell the aircraft to FedEx and deliver it in December to allow time for certification. IPR has already certified a new aluminum door plug on the aircraft to help lower maintenance costs. Taby Air Maintenance Taby Air Maintenance (TAM) initially completed its prototype Saab 2000F conversion in 2023, but had to perform further modifications on the 1996-vintage aircraft (037, ex-Eastern Airlines) after EASA requested a redesign of the smoke evacuation system . [caption id="attachment_57291426" align="aligncenter" width="2266"] Jetstream Aviation Capital is the launch customer of the Saab 2000F conversion. (Courtesy/Taby Air Maintenance)[/caption] The company performed certification flights with EASA in January; those have been approved and the remaining tasks are related to final documentation, but this has been slow partly due to a shortage of personnel at EASA and the need to demonstrate compliance with many new certification requirements, TAM told Cargo Facts in June. TAM and lessor Jetstream Aviation Capital jointly launched the Saab 2000F conversion in 2022. De Havilland De Havilland Aircraft of Canada launched three conversions for Dash 8-400s at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2022 . The manufacturer is still working on its bulk and large-cargo-door conversions after having obtained approval in 2024 for its Dash 8-400 Quick Change conversion, it told Cargo Facts in July that year. Register here for Cargo Facts ’ upcoming free webinar, “Air cargo route networks: Strategies for improved results and greater efficiencies,” on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 11 a.m. ET. Cargo Facts Symposium, the quintessential event for stakeholders and key leaders in the global freighter and air cargo industries, will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville . Learn more and register today to take advantage of the early-bird rate before Sept. 5.

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