ST Engineering's A321 freighter conversion programme gains a new customer
Romain Guillot
 le 04/07/2019 , Maintenance aéronautique
ST Engineering took advantage of the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget to announce a new customer for its A321P2F programme, a conversion programme which it is running together with Airbus and Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) on the long variant of Airbus's A320ceo family. The American lessor has committed to a first aircraft (via a letter of intent for now).
"As the first conversion solution to introduce a containerised lower deck in the segment of narrowbody freighters, the A321P2F has the potential to be the game changer for any hub and spoke operation, and to greatly help realise the projected global air cargo growth rate. For this reason, we made the decision to work with EFW to offer this conversion solution to our customers", said Steve Zissis, the President and CEO of BBAM.
According to ST Engineering, the conversion of the first A321P2F prototype is due to be finalised by the end of the year, with an STC which could be delivered at the start of 2020. The company had won its first customer when the programme was launched in February 2018, with 10 aircraft for Vallair. The market here is clearly one to replace Boeing 757Fs.
The A321P2F will be able to transport 14 standard ULDs (88x125 or 88x108 inches) on its main deck, as well as 10 LD3-45s in the hold. ST Engineering say that it will then be able to transport 27.9 tonnes of freight over a distance of 2 300 nautical miles (4260 km).
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