Spotted: A321PCF prototype on the move

• Charles Kauffman
• July 7, 2020
• Aircraft, All Posts, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News

Freighter-converted A321s are on the horizon. The first A321-200 to be converted by 321 Precision Conversions, a joint venture between Precision Aircraft Solutions and Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), was spotted taxiing outside the Avocet MRO facility at Orlando Sanford International (SFB), where the conformity aircraft is being converted. The aircraft (891, ex-FlyCAA), seen above, […]

Aviastar-Tu to add Cainiao-branded 757F

• Jeff Lee
• July 1, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Russia-based Aviastar-Tu could soon be adding its fourth 757-200F, but this one, unlike the other three, is painted in the colors of Cainiao, Alibaba’s logistics arm. The 757-200PCF was seen conducting ground tests in Goodyear (GYR) and posted to social media in late June. Cargo Facts believes the aircraft is unit 27051 (ex-American Airlines), which was […]

SF Airlines continues fleet growth

• Jeff Lee
• May 22, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy, Widebody Conversions

Chinese express carrier SF Airlines plans to add at least five more aircraft to its fleet by the end of 2020. The carrier confirmed to Cargo Facts the additions include three 757-200PCFs (29943, 33101 and 33100, all ex-TUI Airways), to be converted by Precision Aircraft Solutions, and two 767-300BCFs (26329, ex-LATAM, and 30847, ex-Titan Airways), […]

CFA 2020: Idled aircraft to become conversion feedstock

• Caryn Livingston
• April 23, 2020
• Cargo Facts Asia, Conversions

The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on passenger aircraft operations is a surprising boon to operators and lessors searching for suitable feedstock for freighter conversions. This was the consensus at a panel discussion on freighter conversions during this week’s Cargo Facts Asia virtual event. “We’re actually seeing quite a dramatic increase in orders amongst […]

Precision 757 conversions now total 120

• Jeff Lee
• April 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Editorial, Equipment, Express, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Precision Aircraft Solutions has completed its 120th 757-200PCF conversion and redelivered the aircraft (29942, ex-TUI Airways) to SF Airlines [FAT 005386]. The 757, which was originally delivered from the Boeing factory in 1999, was inducted at the AMECO facility in Chengdu (CTU) in December 2019, and arrived at SF’s hub in Shenzhen (SZX) on April 16. It […]

AA accelerates fleet retirements, frees up feedstock

• Jeff Lee
• March 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Engines, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

American Airlines’ plans to accelerate the retirement of its older aircraft in light of the sharp drop in passenger traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic will result in a feedstock situation that could be attractive for those looking to add 757 freighters. Apart from cutting much of its international traffic, Doug Parker, CEO of American […]

EFW to begin A321 conversions at Guangzhou site

• Jeff Lee
• March 9, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), the joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering Aerospace, will start converting A321-200s into freighter configuration at a second site in Guangzhou later this year, in addition to the ST Engineering facility in Singapore (XSP). Luxembourg-based Vallair told Cargo Facts that its next three A321s to be converted by EFW will likely all be converted at […]

Olympus Airways looks to grow freighter fleet

• Jeff Lee
• February 25, 2020
• Aircraft, Carriers, Conversions, Equipment, Exclusive, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Greece-based Olympus Airways plans to expand its fleet of freighter aircraft and expects to have five 757-200Fs by the end of the year. The airline is new to freighters, having only taken its first in December 2019. Olympus’ first 757-200PCF (25294, ex-American Airlines) was converted by Precision Aircraft Solutions at the AerSale facility in Goodyear […]