ST Aerospace Joins To Celebrate First Redelivery

Boeing, Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aerospace) and ANA (All Nippon Airways) celebrated the completion and certification of the first 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter at a redelivery ceremony held in Singapore Monday.

"We are delighted to take delivery of the first 767-300BCF. It will be a key aircraft in the expansion of our cargo operation and express delivery services to countries neighboring Japan," said Shinsuke Maki, ANA's senior vice president, Engineering & Maintenance, who was present at the ceremony. "The 767 has long been the work-horse of the ANA passenger fleet; it is very gratifying to see an old friend work beyond retirement, and in doing so contribute to the environment in terms of saving and reusing resources. We thank Boeing for their design and SASCO for their work in carrying out the conversion," he added.

"Boeing employees and ST Aerospace worked as true partners to complete this well-designed and expertly managed conversion," said Lou Mancini, vice president and general manager for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "We do everything possible to help customers increase the environmental and operational efficiencies throughout the entire lifespan of their airplanes."

The ANA jet began its transformation from a passenger airplane to a freighter on October 18, 2007, when it arrived at ST Aerospace's subsidiary ST Aviation Services Company (SASCO) in Paya Lebar, Singapore. Boeing, SASCO and ANA celebrated the completion of the door cutting ahead of the production schedule on November 18, a significant process that signifies the readiness of the aircraft for major modifications, and they completed the conversion work for this prototype in April on schedule.

As ANN reported, Boeing test pilots flew the airplane from Singapore to Seattle on April 10, followed by two months of flight testing. The 50-ton-capacity freighter flew nonstop to Seattle, completing the 14-hour, 51-minute flight at 10:13 am the same day, but 15 time zones away. Boeing began its ground testing and certification program immediately thereafter. The prototype passed its flight tests with outstanding results and was flown back to Singapore on May 26.

"This first 767-300BCF redelivery is another demonstration of ST Aerospace's ability to provide on-time, quality and reliable conversions," said Tay Kok Khiang, president of ST Aerospace. "We are honored by Boeing's and ANA's trust in us, and are pleased to work with our long time partners to, once again, deliver a quality product that meets their expectations. We will continue to leverage our engineering capabilities to enhance customers' asset reliability and value."

Boeing launched the 767-300BCF passenger-to-freighter conversion program in 2005 with three firm orders and four options from ANA. Since then, ANA has exercised all the options and now has ordered seven passenger-to-freighter conversions in all.

A part of Boeing's international network of modification facilities, and actively involved in performing passenger-to-freighter (PTF) conversions for aircraft including the DC-10, MD-10BCF, MD-11BCF, 727 and 757-200 Special Freighter, ST Aerospace, through its subsidiary SASCO, was appointed to perform the conversions under this 767-300BCF program. The conversion work involves the removal of passenger interiors equipment and furnishings, installation of the main deck surround structure and side cargo door, replacement of the main deck floor structures, installation of a 9-G rigid cargo barrier and a new cargo handling system, and a maximum take-off weight upgrade as well as other systems changes.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.staero.aero, www.flyana.com