Airbus A321P2F certification is expected within the next few weeks |
| Romain Guillot |
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13 FEB 2020 | 396 words
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© Vallair |
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The P2F (Passenger-to-Freighter) conversion programmes from Airbus, ST Engineering and their German subsidiary Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) was to keep an eye out during Singapore Airshow. Vallair, the launch customer for the A321P2F programme, hasn't waited for the event and announced that the very first narrow-body Airbus to have been converted into a full-cargo aircraft has just made its maiden flight in Singapore.
The Luxembourg-based company points out that this first A321P2F will be delivered to Qantas in July 2020, just as was stated last August. It will then fly for Australia Post (3 aircraft expected). Vallair has ordered a total of 11 A321P2Fs from EFW.
ST Engineering said that its A321P2F is expected to receive its STC in the coming weeks.
This first modified Airbus A321-200 actually took off for the first time from Seletar airport on 22nd January for a short control flight, at the end of a lengthy conversion process which ST Engineering has been carrying out on site since the end of 2018.
In particular, the single-aisle planer (MSN 835, D-ANJA, delivered new to BMI in 1998 and operated by Onur Air until 2016) was fitted with a wide cargo door and its floor was reinforced and given an Ancra loading system. The front doors were also replaced with smaller doors and the rear doors were removed.
The Singapore company is responsible for the development and modification phases and the EASA and FAA STC. Airbus is acting as an OEM by providing data and support, while its subsidiary EFW is managing the programme and the commercial aspects.
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, placing it on the market to replace Boeing 757-200Fs. According to ST Engineering, it will then be able to transport 27.9 tonnes of freight over a distance of 2 300 nautical miles (4260 km), providing a response to the growing needs of the express delivery and e-commerce markets.
Remember that EFW also proposes two conversion programmes for the A330, the A330-300P2F and A330-200P2F. The first A330-300P2F entered into service in December 2017 with DHL Express. The first A330-200P2F was delivered to Egyptair Cargo in August 2018.
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Romain Guillot
Chief editor
Cofounder of Journal de l'Aviation and Alertavia
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