Vallair acquires six A321s to launch the A321P2F program |
Emilie Drab |
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09 MAY 2018 | 344 words
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© Vallair |
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Vallair has built up its initial stock of A321s to launch the A321P2F conversion program. On 24th April, the Luxembourg company indicated that it had acquired six planes produced between 1997 and 1999 to start the work to modify them to cargo aircraft and lease them under short term contracts.
Vallair has signed two conversion agreements with two industrial companies, 321 Precision Conversions in the United States and Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), each time becoming their launch customer for the program to convert A321s into dedicated freighter aircraft. The first prototype scheduled to undergo this modification work (MSN891) was handed over to 321 Precision Conversions last July and work began in October. Vallair had then stated that the STC (Supplemental type certificate) for what will be the A321-200PCF should be delivered in 2019 by the FAA and that other aircraft might follow.
Since then, it has also signed an agreement with EFW in February, during last Singapore Airshow. This agreement relates to the conversion of ten A321s into A321-200P2Fs, the first of which should go into production at the end of 2018. The STC is expected for the end of 2019 and the converted aircraft should enter into service at the start of 2020.
The A321P2F programme was launched in 2015 between ST Aerospace, Airbus and their EFW subsidiary. The Singaporean company is responsible for the development phase until the STC is obtained from the EASA and the FAA. Airbus is acting as an OEM by providing data and support, while EFW is managing the program and the commercial aspects.
The A321P2F must be able to transport up to fourteen standard containers on the main deck and ten on the lower deck, up to a limit of 27.9 tonnes, over 2 300 nm (4 260 km). Vallair feels that it will be a very good replacement for the Boeing 757F but that it will also support the growth of airlines in the cargo sector, driven in particular by express delivery and e-commerce services.
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Emilie Drab
Assistant editor
Civil aerospace, Air transport
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