West Air Sweden expects to introduce the first British Aerospace ATP freighter equipped with a large main deck cargo door late next year.
The Gothenburg-based cargo airline has confirmed it will jointly develop the 8t freighter version of the turboprop with BAE Systems and that it has purchased six ex-United Feeder Service (UFS) aircraft (Flight International, 20-26 June). West Air, which has options on UFS' other three ATPs, will introduce the first aircraft next month in bulk cargo configuration, using the existing doors.
The privately owned carrier operates its 11 BAe 748s on a pan-Scandinavian network. The Swedish post office is its main customer. Managing director Gustaf Thureborn says the ATPs will enable expansion throughout Europe and the introduction of longer flights. He envisages a fleet of between "30 and 40 ATPs".
The installation of the 1.85 x 2.64m (73 x 104in) freight door, priced at $1 million per aircraft, will require about eight weeks downtime. West Air will manufacture the door, undertake its own conversions and offer the modification to third parties. It expects to achieve six modifications a year.
BAE's Regional Aircraft division will hold the design authority. The manufacturer's Asset Management arm, which has 40 of the 60 ATPs in service, has not decided who would convert its aircraft.
Source: Flight International
