Cargo Modification Will Yield 1st of 8 ATR 72 Freighters

ACIA Aero Leasing has embarked on its first ATR 72-600 Large Cargo Door Freighter conversions, putting Serial number MSN 1239 under the knife.

So far, the firm has acquired 5 ATR 72-600s for such conversions, which ACIA says are a pretty hot commodity on the cargo market. Over the last 2 years, the company has delivered 8 ATR 72 freighters to customers, 6 of which sported the 'Large Cargo Door' STC. ACIA sister firm IPR Conversions owns the door's STC, giving them an easy pathway to offer the latest-spec ATR planes with it. The first -600 variant was originally slated to go under the knife in 2022, but ACIA says that their timetable slipped thanks to 'sustained demand for the passenger variant of the aircraft.'

The first large-door ATR 72-600 freighter should be finished and ready for final certification by the first quarter of 2025. ACIA says customers are pretty pumped to get the latest and greatest ATR freighter around, since it offers some pretty attractive economics to short-haul cargo operators. Mick Mooney, CEO of ACIA Aero Leasing, said his firm is positioned perfectly to offer them.

“The demand for the 72-600 LCD has been there for some time as operators have been looking to renew their fleets with the latest technology. Along with our sister company, IPR Conversions, which owns the ATR conversion STC, we have the experience and capability to meet this operator demand."
 
ACIA has moved a lot of ATR 72s in its time, but the stock of older model ATR 72s is starting to dwindle. That's why they've now moved on to the -600, offering all the improvements of the late model ATRs, with the cargo capacity of a converted aircraft.
“As the 72-500 variant becomes scarcer," Mooney said, "it was only going to be a matter of time before the first ATR72-600 underwent freighter conversion. It is strategic for ACIA and IPR as a group to be the first movers. We see strong opportunities for growth in the cargo sector and we are already in active discussions with several prospects, existing customers and operators exploring new market opportunities, particularly in Asia Pacific."

FMI: www.aciaaeroleasing.com