As Airbus gears up to launch its A320 family passenger to freighter (P2F) modification programme, a market is also emerging for the conversion of secondhand A330s and A340s.
The airframer is developing a new-build A330-200F that will enter service in 2009, and next year EADS EFW will undertake the first conversion when it creates the KC-30 demonstrator for the USAF KC-X programme through the modification of a green passenger A330-200 airframe in Dresden.
Airbus Freighter Conversion's vice-president marketing and sales Michael Fuerst believes the experience from these programmes will provide the springboard for an A330/A340 P2F conversion, with the A340-300 likely to be the first candidate: "The A340 feedstock is better in the near term. We won't see too many A330 airframes being released until the 787 is in service in large numbers," he says.
Airframe availability would make it feasible for an A340-300F conversion could be developed by 2011-12, says Fuerst. He estimates that the cargo version of the A340 would have a payload of around 70t.
An A330-300 P2F programme could follow the A340, and both conversions would require the modification developed for the A330-200F that eliminates raises the height of the nose gear to eliminate the nose-down stance of the aircraft on the ground and improve its loadability.
Source: Flight International
