BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) expects to begin Boeing 747-400 Special Freighter (SF) conversions by 2006 despite Boeing selecting rival Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering (TAECO) as the initial conversion centre.
ST Aero president Tay Kok Khiang expects Boeing to eventually partner several conversion providers, with more than one in Asia. Boeing needs a large stable of conversion centres, given the varying requirements of potential 747-400SF customers and the fact there is not enough hangar space at any one centre to meet demand, says Tay.
Boeing, which is poised to announce a 747-400SF launch customer, has already selected TAECO to convert the prototype and two other aircraft. "That's only for the STC [supplemental type certificate] application," says Tay. "After that, I think it's a function of who the buyers want the product to be converted by."
ST Aero is one of three conversion centres in Boeing's 757-200SF programme. The company also has active McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Boeing MD-11 passenger-to-freighter conversion lines.
Tay says demand for DC-10 conversions is falling, but interest from ST Aero customers FedEx Express and UPS is enough to keep the MD-11 line going for five to 10 years. Boeing and ST Aero also seek new 757-200SF customers beyond launch customer DHL. "There are plenty of customers - the question is timing," he says.
Tay says ST Aero is in "preliminary" talks about other new cargo conversion products, including the proposed Boeing MD-80SF.
Source: Flight International
