A new facility to undertake Passenger 2 Cargo (P2F) conversion for Boeing B-777 wide-body jetliners will be established by Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Aviation Group in South Korea.
Establishing more P2F aircraft conversion facilities around the world is necessary, the Israeli firm said, in order to meet the expected rise in demand for wide-body freighter aircraft with capacity for long flights.
The Israeli firm has inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), with the Incheon International Airport and Sharp Technics for a new facility in South Korea, which will specialize in converting Boeing 777-ERSF (“Big Twin”) jetliners from passenger aircraft to freighters.
AI is to convert six B777-300ER and B777-200LR per year, starting in 2024.
IAI’s Aviation Group is working to deliver a P2F prototype B777 P2F conversion and is expected to conclude the licensing process during 2023.
“IAI’s Aviation Group is a world class leader in converting wide-body passenger aircraft to freighter, and manages conversion lines in Israel and around the world. Signing today with Incheon International Airport and Sharp is directly connected to IAI’s close cooperation with the South Korean aviation industry, and highlights IAI’s trust and respect in South Korea’s ability to establish a conversion line to meet demand, along with the necessary trained manpower,” Yossi Melamed, EVP and GM of the Aviation Group, IAI, said. “Over the past few years IAI has transferred production of business jet wings, main frame, and parts of the tail to Korean companies. I look forward to expanding our strategic cooperation activities with South Korean companies and government authorities.”
The B777 model represents the next generation of freighter aircraft, and will join the family of IAI’s conversions, including: B747, B767, B737NG, and the B737 classic.
President Kim Kyung-wook of Incheon International Airport Corporation said, “By attracting the first overseas production base of IAI’s large-sized cargo aircraft to the Incheon Airport MRO cluster, which exclusively possesses the technology for retrofitting Boeing’s large passenger aircraft, we will grow together and contribute greatly to the development of the national and regional economy. Based on the world-class air transportation infrastructure of Incheon International Airport, we will continue to attract world-class aviation MRO companies to Incheon Airport. We plan to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the Korean aviation industry.”
The conversion of cargo aircraft requires tremendous investment costs, advanced technology, international certifications, and skilled aviation maintenance personnel, CEO & President Soon-Suk Paik of Sharp Technics K said, which reflects the high barriers to entry in the MRO industry.
IAI already has extensive operations in South Korea focused on aircraft and helicopter maintenance, airborne and ground-based radar systems, navigation and optronics systems and UAVs. Over the next few years, collaborations will also be expanded to mission aircraft, strategic UAVs and VTOL UAVs and roving and accurate armament systems.
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