newstodate.aero
Jan 12, 2011 (newstodate): The Airbus-project for conversion of the A320 passenger aircraft into a freighter version is progressing - but the program has seen a postponement.
-We encountered some challenges when revising the original position of the cargo to the aft which called for extensive engineering calculations, and as we build the converted freighter on 2012 certification standards to ensure full compliance with the latest requirements, the process run into a postponement, says Michael Furst, Airbus VP marketing & sales, Airbus Freighter Conversion.
-Thus, production of the first Airbus A320 P2F prototype aircraft will start from November 2011 and run till July 2012. The first flight is scheduled for Autumn 2012, and certification of the aircraft is expected to be completed by end of November 2012, after which the first aircraft will be delivered to AerCap and the first operator of the P2F, West Atlantic at Luxembourg.
The postponement will thus accrue to roughly one year, compared to initial calculations for first flight in 2011.
-We encountered some challenges when revising the original position of the cargo to the aft which called for extensive engineering calculations, and as we build the converted freighter on 2012 certification standards to ensure full compliance with the latest requirements, the process run into a postponement, says Michael Furst, Airbus VP marketing & sales, Airbus Freighter Conversion.
-Thus, production of the first Airbus A320 P2F prototype aircraft will start from November 2011 and run till July 2012. The first flight is scheduled for Autumn 2012, and certification of the aircraft is expected to be completed by end of November 2012, after which the first aircraft will be delivered to AerCap and the first operator of the P2F, West Atlantic at Luxembourg.
The postponement will thus accrue to roughly one year, compared to initial calculations for first flight in 2011.