Expanding its conversion scope from the A300/310 family to meet growing demand, EADS EFW has formed a joint venture company to undertake conversions on the A320 family in Germany and Russia. For European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, conversions of its passenger planes to freighters have until now, been carried out solely by Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH(EFW) in Dresden, Germany.
As the wholly-owned subsidiary and business unit of EADS, EFW is the centre of competence for the conversion of Airbus A300/310 wide-body passenger aircraft into freighters, and has a capacity of 20 aircraft per year. But looking to expand its capabilities to meet burgeoning market demand for freighter conversions of other Airbus aircraft types, a new joint venture company was created with Russian partners.
The Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH, located in Dresden, Germany started its operational business aiming to the set up of freighter conversion centres for the Airbus A320 family in Lukhovitsy near Moscow and at the Dresden EFWsite.
Airbus Freighter Conversion (AFC) is a joint venture between Russian companies – United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) and Irkut Corp, each with 25 per cent stake– and EADS EFW 32 per cent and Airbus18 per cent.
“After the establishment of the company, the sales and marketing team is about to finalize negotiations with the first customer who will be announced soon”, said Lars Becker, CEO of AFC.
The first converted freighter aircraft is expected to roll out in 2010 at EADS EFW´s conversion centre, the first converted aircraft from the Russian line is scheduled for 2011.
“With a prospering airfreight market worldwide we experience a high demand for the conversion of passenger aircraft into cargo versions. We anticipate about 400 Airbus single aisle aircraft to be converted from 2010 to 2025”, said Dr Andreas Sperl President and CEO of EADS EFW.
Following the ramp-up period an average of 30 A320 family aircraft will be converted each year, according to EFW. The AFC joint venture and the individual partners will design the conversion solution, manufacture the conversion kits, perform the conversions and market and sell the conversion services. Meanwhile, EFW celebrated earlier in July, the entry into conversion of the 100th aircraft since starting operations in 1996.
The 19 year old A310-300 bearing the Manufacturing Serial Number (MSN) 476 was formerly used by Turkish Airlines offering passenger services.
“We are happy that Turkish Airlines, a new up-and-coming customer in the air cargo business decided to convert the popular A310 aircraft,” said Dr Sperl. “I am very proud on our highly skilled and dedicated employees who contributed to 99 freighter conversions in Dresden – and to the current 100th one. Their passion to deliver excellence to our customers is the root cause for our achievement in the last years and represents the basis for EFW´s success in future programs,” he said.
MSN 476 is the first of three Airbus A310 aircraft for Turkish Airlines that will be converted into freighters. MSN 478 and 480 will touch down in Dresden later this year and in the middle of 2008. In looking to the future EFW has identified the A300-600 which made its debut in 2002 as the next type suitable for freighter conversion.