Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), a joint venture between Airbus and ST Engineering, has achieved key milestones in the conversion program for the A321 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) with the delivery and entry-into-service of the first aircraft converted to Qantas on 2 October. Aircraft asset manager Vallair is leasing this new P2F version to Qantas, to run services on behalf of https://air-miles-guide.com/countries/australia/ Australia Post. The newly built aircraft was delivered to Vallair by EFW last month following its flight tests.
The completion and 'birth' of the world's first A321 converted freighter is marked by these milestones. EFW received the A321P2F Supplemental Form Certificate (STC) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in February of this year and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Validation STC in July of this year. Prior to its delivery from EFW to Vallair, operator-specific changes were subsequently implemented into the freighter and certified.
Andreas Hermann, Airbus' VP of Asset Management and member of the EFW Shareholders' Committee, said: "We are very pleased to see the A321P2F program entering service." In the Single-Aisle freighter market, the Airbus A321 is the platform that will deliver the best economy, cargo capacity and performance by design. This will offer an excellent opportunity for any asset owner to exploit potential growth and substitution waves, underpinning the A321's already great value proposition today.
First A321P2F interior of Qantas
The A321P2F is the first in its size category to offer both the main (up to 14 full container positions) and lower deck containerized loading (up to 10 container positions). The A321P2F is the perfect Single-Aisle freighter aircraft for express domestic and regional operations with a generous payload-range capacity that can accommodate 28 metric tonnes over 2,300 nautical miles. The conversion features a large hydraulically actuated and electrically locked main cargo door, a 'Class-E' main-deck cargo compartment with a complete rigid 9g barrier for optimum crew and cargo safety, and a redefined flight deck with supernumerary seats.
The OEM-supported conversion of the A321P2F to the market is a collaboration between ST Engineering, Airbus and EFW. Customers were keenly interested in the solution, which is expected to expand further with the first A321P2F device entering the market. Looking further forward, as the first A320P2F takes shape next year, the story is expected to take another step.
The completion and 'birth' of the world's first A321 converted freighter is marked by these milestones. EFW received the A321P2F Supplemental Form Certificate (STC) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in February of this year and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Validation STC in July of this year. Prior to its delivery from EFW to Vallair, operator-specific changes were subsequently implemented into the freighter and certified.
Andreas Hermann, Airbus' VP of Asset Management and member of the EFW Shareholders' Committee, said: "We are very pleased to see the A321P2F program entering service." In the Single-Aisle freighter market, the Airbus A321 is the platform that will deliver the best economy, cargo capacity and performance by design. This will offer an excellent opportunity for any asset owner to exploit potential growth and substitution waves, underpinning the A321's already great value proposition today.
First A321P2F interior of Qantas
The A321P2F is the first in its size category to offer both the main (up to 14 full container positions) and lower deck containerized loading (up to 10 container positions). The A321P2F is the perfect Single-Aisle freighter aircraft for express domestic and regional operations with a generous payload-range capacity that can accommodate 28 metric tonnes over 2,300 nautical miles. The conversion features a large hydraulically actuated and electrically locked main cargo door, a 'Class-E' main-deck cargo compartment with a complete rigid 9g barrier for optimum crew and cargo safety, and a redefined flight deck with supernumerary seats.
The OEM-supported conversion of the A321P2F to the market is a collaboration between ST Engineering, Airbus and EFW. Customers were keenly interested in the solution, which is expected to expand further with the first A321P2F device entering the market. Looking further forward, as the first A320P2F takes shape next year, the story is expected to take another step.
Comments
Post a Comment