Israel Aerospace Industries' first cargo-converted Airbus aircraft completes first flight
A converted aircraft costs tens of millions of dollars, compared with more than $250 million for a new cargo aircraft of the same model directly from the production line.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) achieved a significant milestone by successfully flying its first converted Airbus A330-200 cargo aircraft. The flight, conducted on Friday from Ben-Gurion Airport, is part of the aircraft's certification process, indicating a crucial step towards delivery to customers and operational use. This achievement follows the completion of the aircraft's main structural conversion and rigorous ground tests, which assessed its performance under various conditions.
The converted Airbus A330-300BDSF is specifically designed for cargo operations on regional and medium-range routes. With the capacity to carry up to 30 cargo containers and a payload of up to 61 tons, it presents a cost-effective solution for cargo operators. The aircraft features an electric cargo-loading system and enhanced cargo-flow capabilities, ensuring faster loading and unloading processes.
This marks IAI's first foray into converting Airbus aircraft, following successful conversions of Boeing aircraft for cargo operations, aerial refueling, and VIP services. The project complements IAI's existing Boeing 777-300ERSF conversion program, which has garnered numerous orders. Both the 777 and the A330 are being repurposed from their previous passenger roles, as they no longer meet airline fuel efficiency standards.
IAI CEO Guy Bar Lev highlighted the significance of this milestone, emphasizing the company's commitment to advanced aviation technologies and expanding its position in the global air cargo market. The A330-300BDSF conversion program bolsters IAI's comprehensive conversion portfolio, enabling the company to offer flexible and reliable long-term cargo solutions worldwide.
Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Aviation Group, Yaakov Berkovitz, expressed confidence in IAI's engineering and operational expertise, stating that the converted aircraft delivers advanced capabilities tailored to the evolving needs of the global cargo market.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
