World’s first passenger-to-freighter plane unveiled

Singapore - The world's first 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) has been completed and delivered to All Nippon Airways.

The 767 has long been the workhorse of the ANA passenger fleet, said Shinsuke Maki, senior vice president of engineering and maintenance at ANA. The redeveloped plane will now serve to further the company's cargo operations. "[The 767-300BCF] will be a key aircraft in the expansion of our cargo operation and express delivery services to countries neighbouring Japan," Maki said.

Boeing launched the 767-300BCF passenger-to-freighter (PTF) conversion programme in 2005, with three orders from ANA, the company said in a release.

Boeing partnered ST Aerospace for the conversion project. The transformation began on 18 October last year, when the ANA aircraft arrived at ST Aerospace's subsidiary ST Aviation Services Company (SASCO) in Singapore.

SASCO was tasked to convert the aircraft, which involved the removal of passenger interior equipment and furnishings, installing the main deck surround structure and side cargo door, replacing the main deck floor structures, installing a 9-G rigid cargo barrier and a new cargo handling system, maximum take-off weight upgrade as well as other system changes.

Boeing test pilots flew the 50-ton-capacity aircraft from Singapore to Seattle on 10 April for two months of flight testing.

The BCF aircraft meets Boeing's standards for quality and consistency, the aerospace company said. The programme is part of the company's Lifecycle Solutions to improve aircraft and airline operational and environmental efficiencies through the entire life of the aircraft.

"We do everything possible to help customers increase the environmental and operational efficiencies throughout the entire lifespan of their airplanes," said Lou Mancini, vice president and general manager of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services.