Israeli company unveils order from Guggenheim Aviation Partners to modify two combis
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has secured an official launch customer for its Boeing 747-400 passenger-to-freighter (PTF) modification programme a year after its launch, unveiling a deal for the conversion of two combis for lessor Guggenheim Aviation Partners (GAP). The US aviation investment company last month signed for the rival Boeing 747-400 freighter modification.
The deal with IAI's Bedek Aviation Group covers the conversion of two 13-year-old ex-Air Canada, Pratt & Whitney PW4056-powered 747-400 combis, which GAP has purchased from GE Capital Aviation Services, to full freighter configuration. According to industry sources, the aircraft are destined for long-term lease to Air China Cargo.
The first aircraft was ferried to Bedek's Tel Aviv plant last week, although work will not start until February. Bedek says it has begun the process to achieve supplemental type certification, and approval will be received when the first modification is completed in early 2006. Once the programme is up and running conversions are expected to take around five months.
GAP has an order with Boeing for the conversion of four ex-Singapore Airlines 747-400s to freighters, between 2006 and 2009. GAP executive officer Steve Rimmer says the decision to split the order was driven by the fact that "we believe there is a place in the market for both conversions". He adds that Bedek had earlier slot availability for the conversion of combis, as Boeing is not able to offer combi modifications until 2008.
IAI launched its 747-400 PTF conversion in 2003, but has had a hard-fought battle against Boeing's in-house programme to secure a launch customer. It had been expected to land a deal from Korean Air, but the airline eventually selected the Boeing modification. David Arzi, Bedek general manager and IAI's corporate vice-president, says he expects to announce further contracts by the end of this year.
MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / LONDON
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ARIE EGOZI IN TEL AVIV
Source: Flight International
