Alcoa-SIE Cargo Conversions' (ASCC) first Boeing 757-200 passenger-freighter-conversion prototype has made its maiden flight.
Converted by modification specialist Cascade Aerospace, the 757 first flew from Abbotsford, Canada on 17 November and will continue certification flights mostly from Moses Lake, Washington.
ASCC sales and marketing director Richard Gauvin says type inspection authorisation is expected in mid-December when the final data goes to the FAA. "We're pretty confident we'll get our supplemental type certification in January," he adds.
Gauvin says the first aircraft, N235SC, was converted for launch customer Babcock and Brown Aircraft Management and has already been placed with an undisclosed airline.
The second aircraft is due to at ASCC in January for conversion by late June. Subsequent examples are expected to be completed more quickly.
Source: Flight International
