The US Federal Aviation Administration has approved Kitty Hawk's alternative means of compliance for an airworthiness directive (AD) that imposes severe payloads limits on Boeing 727-200 freighter conversions for use by Pemco World Air Services and Aeronautical Engineers (AEI).
The kit, which costs $75,000 and involves side restraints, terminates the AD relating to cargo floor strengthening on converted 727-200s, and upgrades the average weight to 2,725kg (6,000lb) per cargo position, says Kitty Hawk.
The problem is with aircraft not converted using the Boeing supplemental type certificate (STC). The AD takes effect in May for Kitty Hawk Aircargo, Pemco, Miami-based AEI and FedEx, which were awarded supplemental type certificates in the mid-1980s for the conversion work.
The AD, which affects 30 airlines operating 370 aircraft worldwide, requires operators to reduce payloads from the current maximum 3,630kg per cargo position to 1,360kg, or adhere to operational limitations that allow higher payloads per position up to 2,180kg. The AD results from concern that the aircraft flooring conversions were engineered without Boeing's load-path data.
Kitty Hawk says it is the only STC holder to comply with the floor AD using an FAA-approved method. Its kit is available for 120 US-registered 727-200Fs not operated by FedEx, which is pursuing its own means of compliance.
• Raisbeck is offering "aggressive" introductory pricing on its 727 heavy gross weight Stage 3 kit in a bid to secure customers before the December deadline for the phase-out of Stage 2 aircraft. The kit is designed for gross weights in excess of 93,800kg. It is the last of four 727aerodynamic performance improvement kits to be certificated by Seattle-based Raisbeck as an alternative to hushkits. The first 50 heavy gross weight kits are offered at $1.3 million, a reduction of $500,000.
Source: Flight International
