Singapore Airlines' (SIA) engineering unit has been named the second conversion centre for Boeing's 747-400 Special Freighter (SF) programme and will begin by performing work on four aircraft for Hong Kong's Dragonair.
Dragonair is to purchase five used 747-400s from SIA for conversion to SFs, which will more than double the size of its freighter fleet by 2008. The deal comprises three 747-300Fs and from July will include one recently acquired 747-200F.
The airline says the first conversion will be carried out by Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering (TAECO) in China, while the four others will be done by SIA Engineering in Singapore. Two will enter service in 2006, followed by two in 2007 and one in 2008.
In January, fellow Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific Airways was named launch customer for Boeing's 747-400SF programme with an agreement to have up to 12 passenger aircraft converted into freighters, the first of which will be completed in December 2005 by TAECO. Both Boeing and Cathay have stakes in TAECO. Cathay also has a minority shareholding in Dragonair.
Cathay's deal with Boeing covers six firm conversions and six options. The passenger aircraft will be modified with a strengthened main deck and side cargo door identical to that on the 747-400F production freighter. The 747-400SF will have a payload of around 113,500kg (250,000lb) and a range of around 7,600km (4,100nm).
NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
Source: Flight International
