UPS is expecting to finalise its choice of widebody aircraft to replace its fleet of Douglas DC-8-70 freighters by the end of March, to enable the first to enter service in 1999.
The Louisville, Kentucky-based freight carrier revealed in October 1997 that it was examining various aircraft to replace a fleet of 49 DC-8-70Fs on its North American network. UPS dubs the requirement the widebody regional freighter, and candidates include the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and Airbus Industrie A300.
Marshall Aerospace, based at Cambridge in the UK, is working with Lockheed Martin's Greensville, North Carolina, modification centre on an attempt to convert an initial batch of 25 ex-Delta Air Lines TriStar 1s. The UK company is proposing that dual conversion lines be set up in the UK and USA to meet UPS' delivery rate requirements.
"We are about to submit our best and final offer," says Marshall managing director Martin Broadhurst, who adds that he believes that UPS is on schedule to make a decision by the end of March.
Marshall has completed ten TriStar commercial freighter conversions to date, but its conversion lines have been empty since the delivery of an TriStar 50F was made to American International Airways at the end of 1996.
The DC-10 and A300 are established as the most popular widebodies for freighter conversion with modification line slots sold out for several years. The widespread availability of TriStars, and conversion slots, may therefore make the trijet the leading candidate for UPS.
Source: Flight International
