Crisis could diversify next-gen narrowbody leasing market

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• July 8, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis, News, Strategy

Minneapolis (MSP) is not a base for all-cargo carriers, and yet a freshly painted 737-800BCF (32605, ex-Hainan Airlines) landed at the airport on June 26, having arrived empty from Everett (PAE). The aircraft had arrived in Everett in early June after conversion to freighter configuration by Boeing in China. In the past three months, GECAS, […]

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 […]

IAI looks to add European conversion site

• Jeff Lee
• December 19, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is exploring the possibility of adding conversion lines at the Aviatic MRO facility at Siauliai International Airport (SQQ) in Lithuania. The Aviatic MRO facility occupies an area of 471 hectares at SQQ, which is located in northern Lithuania. The facility is operational 24/7, has no noise restrictions, and is capable of […]

Grounded IAI-converted 737Fs returning to service following approval of interim fix

• Charles Kauffman
• December 15, 2019
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions

On Dec. 11, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) informed operators of a manufacturing noncompliance issue with the rigid barrier (9G) systems installed on some IAI-converted 737s freighter causing operators to temporarily ground up to 40 aircraft. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) approving an interim fix and by Saturday, some […]

17 Asia-Pacific fleet additions in 2019

• Jeff Lee
• December 13, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, Production Freighters, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Earlier this week, we looked at how the freighter fleet in mainland China has grown in 2019. As the year draws to a close, here’s an overview of the seventeen freighter aircraft that were added to carriers based elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region over the course of the year. [Note: for the purposes of this […]

Grounding of IAI-converted 737s extends to 737-700s

• Jeff Lee
• December 12, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The rigid barrier irregularity discovered by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which led to Australian carrier Qantas grounding its four converted 737-300 freighters, affects more than just -300BDSFs. Alaska Airlines has also grounded its fleet of three 737-700BDSFs, which it received in 2017 and 2018. IAI told Cargo Facts that approximately 40 aircraft in total are […]

SpiceJet grows freighter fleet with second 737-800BCF

• Jeff Lee
• November 8, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News

India-based SpiceJet will soon receive its second 737-800BCF (30475), on lease from Spectre Air Capital [FATs 005231-005232]. With this redelivery, the carrier grows its freighter fleet to five units. Unit 30475 has been spotted in Jinan (TNA), where it was converted by Boeing at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (STAECO) facility. The aircraft was manufactured in […]

Second 737-800BDSF begins flight tests

• Jeff Lee
• November 5, 2019
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

The second 737-800 to be converted into cargo configuration by Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Aviation Group (28619, ex-Pegasus) has been completed and took its first test flight on Nov. 4. The flight took place to the northwest of Tel Aviv (TLV) and lasted just under four hours. Meanwhile, the first 737-800BDSF (30498, ex-Transaero Airlines) has remained […]