BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Taiwan's Inter-Continental Aircraft Services (ICAS) is leading an effort to again restructure the Boeing 737-300 Special Freighter (SF) conversion team ahead of an expected launch later this year.
ICAS president Alex Tong says the Taiwanese consortium has recruited B/E Aerospace subsidiary Flight Structures (FSI) to oversee an application for a US Federal Aviation Administration supplemental type certificate. ICAS also plans to soon select conversion centres in China and the USA.
FSI and the new US conversion centre will assume some of the role previously held by Goodrich. ICAS and Goodrich were co-primes, both responsible for sales and serving as conversion centres, before Goodrich pulled out earlier this year.
"ICAS has decided to take on the programme on its own," says Tong.
Boeing's role is not affected in the latest restructuring, with the manufacturer providing technical data and the cargo door. ICAS plans to use the same door as the 737-700QC. Vought now supplies this door, but Tang says Boeing is in talks with alternative non-US suppliers.
Boeing set up the 737-300SF programme in late 2000, with Goodrich and ICAS as conversion centres. But last year Boeing ceded responsibilities for sales, development and certification to reduce costs to compete with programmes by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Pemco Aviation Group.
Tang says ICAS's new price is $2.5 million, $1 million less than the original price but still 10% to 20% higher than IAI or Pemco. ICAS aims to have a prototype certificated in the USA by the end of 2004.
A US company will be chosen in the next month to convert the prototype. Tong says Taikoo Aircraft Engineering will also "probably" be a modification centre and convert aircraft for Chinese operators. ICAS also plans conversions in Taiwan.
Source: Flight International
