Summary
- Nomadic Aviation Group accomplished a transpacific ferry flight for an ex-LATAM Boeing 767-300ER, which will likely be converted right into a freighter for LATAM Cargo Chile operations.
- The aircraft will undergo passenger-to-cargo conversion at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO), which supplies Boeing with 737-800BCF conversions.
- The increasing demand for cargo aircraft has led to an increase in passenger-to-cargo conversions, allowing airlines to increase the aircraft’s life, grow capability, and maintain fleet commonality.
Nomadic Aviation Group, an organization that gives ferry and test flight operations across the globe, recently accomplished a transpacific ferry flight for a Boeing 767-300ER. LATAM previously flew the aircraft, however the 767 will soon be converted right into a freighter aircraft for LATAM Cargo Chile operations.
LATAM Boeing 767-300ER
The ex-LATAM Boeing 767 was ferried from Kapolei Kalaeloa Airport (JRF) in Kapolei, Hawaii, to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) in Guangzhou, China. Nomadic OMD ferried this aircraft on flight OMD-361. The 767 was scheduled to depart Kapolei at 20:35 local time. Nonetheless, it left the departure airport at 21:14 local time, barely late. It arrived in Guangzhou at 03:40 local time, meaning the aircraft had a flight time of slightly below twelve hours and thirty minutes.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Easy Flying.
The aircraft, which is registered as N572LA, was originally utilized by LATAM in a two-class configuration. It held 191 passengers in a typical economy class and 30 passengers in a business class, per ch-aviation. N572LA was originally delivered in August 2012 to LAN Airlines. Nonetheless, just over a 12 months later, it was transferred to LATAM Airlines Brasil, specifically in November 2013. This got here after LAN Airlines was merged with TAM Linhas Aereas in 2012, which formed LATAM Airlines.
This aircraft will undergo the passenger-to-cargo conversion at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited (GAMECO). This conversion provider has several existing 767 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) lines in Guangzhou. The corporate also supplies Boeing with 737-800BCF conversions.
Freighter conversion
Boeing has forecast an increasing need for freighter aircraft within the near future. On the Singapore Airshow in 2022, Boeing revealed it predicted a necessity for 1,720 freighter conversions over the following 20 years. This same 12 months, the corporate announced plans to open a 3rd BCF line at the ability in Guangzhou. This BCF line was specifically for the 767-300 conversion, which is the LATAM aircraft that can soon be converted.
With the increasing demand for cargo aircraft, many air cargo carriers have turned to passenger-to-cargo (P2F) conversions. This process can add several years to the aircraft’s life. After the aircraft interiors turn into outdated, many firms turn to those less expensive conversions. The conversion process also allows the airline to proceed to grow its capability, yet still maintain fleet commonality.
Photo: Lufthansa Cargo
The standard means of P2F goes through 4 primary steps. These steps include pre-conversion ground and flight tests, the event of modified structures and interiors, the qualification of latest modified systems, and post-conversion ground and flight tests. Throughout this process, the conversion company must completely gut the inside. This includes removing all seats, overhead bins, carpets, and bathrooms. A brand new cargo door can be installed, which is often instead of the emergency exit. The brand new emergency door should be structurally reinforced. Occasionally, reinforced floors should be added to handle the heavy weight of cargo.