keynote feature
all the time. “We were once in a world of 160-cent fuel and cheap, depreciated freighters with low-technology cheap engines, a time when a half-empty freighter was not a big deal. Now, we are in a world with sophisticated high bypass engines and expensive airframes where every cubic foot of cargo, pound of payload and drop of fuel matters. “Fleet planning and the selection of a freighter fleet type and conversion is more critical than ever,” he warned.
CHALLENGES Another US conversion house is Miami-based Aeronautical Engineers, Inc (AEI), where vice president - operations, David McDonald, explains: “AEI has been quite busy since September 2009 and we anticipate business to continue improving in 2010. Enquiries are up and our MD-80SF (Special Freighter) has generated a lot of interest, with the first 10 slots already sold. “Both Boeing and Airbus foresee a significant demand
for new freighters during the next 20 years and AEI agrees with that analysis,” he added. McDonald, too, thinks that the role of the passenger-to-
freighter modifier is changing. “Traditionally, conversions were performed on aircraft owned by the operator and, other than product support, the conversion house was simply focused on providing a quality conversion. “Today, potential customers often look for a complete
package of assistance – involving locating aircraft, conversion, post-conversion support and support for issues such as ageing aircraft concerns. “AEI is addressing the need for aircraft via its
relationships with lessors,” McDonald continued. “It has
AEI’s B737-400 modification for Istanbul-based cargo carrier MNG Airlines
Aubrey: “conversion feedstock can be had at attractive prices”
always had an excellent reputation for post- conversion support and that has improved still further, now that AEI has become a Boeing licensed provider of conversions. The company has developed an AEI Approved Conversion Center programme under which select MROs receive AEI training and support so as to ensure the highest quality conversion possible with a worldwide presence.” There is another side to the business of providing
converted freighters to those hungry for reasonably- priced all-cargo capacity – and this is offered by those companies that either finance the purchase or lease out the equipment. According to Greg Cope, senior vice president of the UK-
based aircraft remarketing company Cabot Aviation: “The market for passenger-to-freighter conversions started to collapse about two years ago, together with the rest of the freighter market. “Apart from one or two exceptions such as the AEI 737-
400 for MNG in Turkey and the 767-300 for EuroAtlantic in Portugal (a modification by Bedek, a division of Israel Aerospace Industries), it has been very quiet since then.” But things are changing and he is optimistic. Cope
16 AIR LOGISTICSCHINA
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