Swissair's SR Technics maintenance subsidiary has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with McDonnell Douglas (MDC) to fit up to 25 DC-10-10s with an advanced, Honeywell-designed, two-crew flightdeck under Phase II of the FedEx MD-10 programme.
MDC confirms that the MoU has been agreed, but adds that "-it is not a done deal yet".
The final numbers involved have yet to be decided, although they are likely to include the first of 12 DC-10s undergoing passenger-to-cargo conversion at Dimension Aviation, Arizona, and the 13 which will be converted at Aeronavali, Italy.The aircraft are being acquired from United Airlines and American Airlines.
"SR Technics will be performing the cockpit conversion under contract for us," says MDC, which is prime contractor for Fedex's MD-10 programme.
The first DC-10, a special flight-test aircraft, will be fitted with the advanced common flightdeck in early 1998, with the first flight expected in the third quarter of the year. Two additional DC-10s will be modified and used in a flight-test programme of about 800 flying hours. US Federal Aviation Administration certification is planned in early 1999.
SR Technics expects to start converting the remaining aircraft around May 1999, and will deliver one every eight to ten weeks until 2002 . The scope of the deal could grow substantially, as FedEx is expected eventually to convert between 60 and 120 DC-10s.`
Source: Flight International
