Pinnacle Aircraft Leasing has awarded contracts to Daimler-Benz Aerospace (DASA) Airbus for the first two of an expected five A300B4 freighter conversion deal. The first of the two - a 1980-build ex-Egyptair aircraft - is being converted at DASA Airbus subsidiary Elbe Flugzeugwerke, based in Dresden. It is to be redelivered in July.
Pinnacle director Jim Bryan says: "The demand for mid-size freighters in the 30-50t category is rapidly growing. Consequently, we have decided to procure an entire A300 fleet for freighter conversions to satisfy the growing market demand in this segment."
According to DASA Airbus, Washington-based Pinnacle plans to convert another three aircraft in the near future. These are to be remarketed by Bristol Associates, which says that it has had "significant interest" from carriers in the Asia-Pacific, European and Latin American markets.
The German company is also to convert two A300B4s, which can carry a 43t payload over 4,100km (2,220nm), for Egyptair's fleet. Work on these conversions is to begin in June, with the first aircraft scheduled for delivery in October , and the second in February 1998.
Four DASA conversion kits have been ordered by Aerospatiale for Canadian Air Force Combi-Convertibles, and negotiations continue with the cash-strapped German air force over four conversions.
DASA Airbus predicts a demand for about 170-200 Airbus freighters over the next 15 years, with the air-cargo market growing by 7% annually. It competes with Airbus partner, Filton-based British Aerospace Aviation Services.
Source: Flight International