First A321P2F takes to the skies

• Jeff Lee
• January 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The very first freighter-converted A321-200F became airborne today, carrying out its first post-conversion test flight over Singapore for approximately twenty minutes. The test confirms that the aircraft (831, ex-Onur Air) has finally received its two IAE V2500 engines. In October 2019, Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Aerospace, said the Supplemental […]

AEI adds conversions as interest in 737 Classics continues

• Jeff Lee
• January 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) and Vx Capital Partners have signed an agreement for the conversion of three 737-400s into freighter configuration, bringing the number of Vx’s 737-400SFs to twenty-five. The aircraft are the only three 737-400s left in the fleet of LOT Polish Airlines; all three are currently in Warsaw (WAW) and don’t appear to have […]

Boeing sees 737 Max return slipping to midyear, adding to strain

• Bloomberg News
• January 21, 2020
• Aircraft, Bloomberg, Editorial, Equipment, News

Boeing Co. said its grounded 737 Max won’t be cleared to fly until the middle of this year, at least six months later than previously anticipated, adding to the company’s financial burden. The U.S. planemaker is resetting expectations as it addresses two recent setbacks for the embattled Max: a software flaw that will require more work than […]

CAAC certifies additional 737 NG conversions

• Jeff Lee
• January 20, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has certified both the 737-700BDSF by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the 737-800SF by Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI), paving the way for the introduction of the two freighter-converted aircraft types by Chinese operators. All three 737 NG conversion programs currently certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are now also certified by the CAAC, which granted approval for Boeing’s […]

Production A330F backlog dwindles

• Jeff Lee
• January 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, News, Widebody Conversions

Colombia-based Synergy Aerospace Corporation, one of only two remaining customers with the production A330-200F on order, canceled its order for a single frame in December, according to Airbus’ orders and deliveries tally for 2019. Synergy is the majority shareholder of Avianca Holdings, which operates six A330-200Fs through its Avianca Cargo subsidiary. This leaves the A330-200F […]

ULS looks to add narrowbody freighters

• Jeff Lee
• January 16, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Turkey-based ULS Airlines Cargo is now looking to narrowbody freighters to renew and expand its fleet. The carrier told Cargo Facts that due to the changing market it plans to introduce two A321Fs and two A330Fs within the next four years, subject to feedstock prices. ULS said this would be the first phase of its fleet […]

Production freighter orders in 2019 – 747 nowhere to be seen

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• January 15, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Equipment, Features, Freighter Fleet Analysis, Production Freighters

Given that 2018 was such a stellar year for freighter orders, with eighty-three aircraft ordered, 2019 was perhaps always going to pale in comparison. Still, the year ended with a respectable twenty-eight production jet freighter aircraft being added to the order books. The orders for these twenty-eight aircraft, consisting of seventeen 777Fs and eleven 767-300Fs, […]

ACIA acquires IPR’s conversion and leasing business

• Jeff Lee
• January 15, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

ACIA Aero Capital has acquired an additional 33.34% stake in IPR Conversions and IPR Leasing from IPR Invest. ACIA, which has leasing, maintenance and parts subsidiaries, had been a minority stakeholder in IPR and now becomes the sole owner of IPR’s conversion and leasing businesses covering ATR series aircraft. Christian Degouy, former managing director of […]