In response to queries from Payload Asia, Boeing said that two unspecified airlines and a lessor have recently inquired about Boeing’s intention to convert 777passenger airplanes into freighters.
Although Boeing’s VP for Freighter Conversions, Dennis Floyd, stressed that no decision had as yet been made on whether to convert early 777s into freighters, “it is likely such an airplane could enter into service in the first half of the next decade.”
Typically freighter conversions become viable for wide-body aircraft at about 15-20 years after the passenger version has been in service, but delivery of 777s began only 11 years ago.
Floyd said Boeing was gratified to see“early interest” in a passenger to freighter conversion of the 777 family of airplanes,saying it was testament to the widespread popularity of the aircraft.
“Ultimately it is market demand, and the availability of passenger airplanes at the right price, that drives the timing of when Boeing offers a conversion program to its customers,” Floyd said.
Working with the interested parties, the US airframe manufacturer developed a preliminary concept for a possible 777BCF (Boeing Converted Freighter) which recently passed Gate 2 in the product development process, according to the spokesperson.
Boeing said it will now take the concept to a few key customers and these meetings “will help validate the concept and establish a more feasible configuration that would be used for a Gate 3sometime next year.”
Freighter conversions are considered an attractive proposition because they extend the life of a passenger airplane and off er lower acquisition costs than new freighters, but both new and converted freighters have their place in the market.
Focus to remain on 747 programme
The large freighter market is currently being well served by the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter, the 747-400 Freighter (with its unique nose door), the 777 Freighter, which is scheduled to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2008, and the 747-8 Freighter, which follows with its entry into service in the third quarter of 2009, Floyd said.
“Our focus right now is to meet our commitments on the very successful 747- 400 Boeing Converted Freighter, and to successfully ramp up the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter program.”
“During the next couple of years, product development will work to understand the changes necessary to convert 777 passenger airplanes into freighters with useful payload and range capability,” he added.
Boeing added that some of this work must be done before it is practical to even show study airplanes.
Meanwhile, Boeing continues to develop its ongoing conversion programmes including the Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF) programme covering the MD-10/11, the 747-400 and the 767-300 along with licensing agreements for the 757-200SF and the 767-200SF.
Over the next 20 years, Boeing predicts that 57 per cent of the large, widebody freighters (>75 tonnes) added to the fleet will be passenger- and combito- freighter conversions and 43 per cent will be new-built.