Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW), center of excellence for Airbus freighter conversions, has received the Supplemental Type Certification (STC) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its head-of-version A320 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft.
This prototype unit is the first A320P2F aircraft to be developed in the world, joining a family of Airbus P2F programmes that include the A330-200P2F, A330-300P2F and A321P2F.
The A320P2F is the second variant in Airbus narrowbody P2F solutions. Similar to the A321P2F variant, the A320P2F is a collaboration between EFW and its parent companies, ST Engineering and Airbus, with EFW leading the overall programme as well as marketing & sales efforts.
The prototype A320P2F aircraft is owned by the aviation leasing arm of ST Engineering.
It will be the first of several converted freighter aircraft on lease to Vaayu Group, an aviation solutions and services group of companies.
“With this STC, we have added another first in the world to our family of Airbus P2F platforms,” said Andreas Sperl, CEO of EFW.
“The A320P2F is a great complement to our other conversion programmes. Airlines which employ different Airbus freighters to meet their various needs will get to enjoy improved operating economics due to the commonality across these platforms.
“Being a newer-generation freighter, it also offers greener fuel burn outcomes for its operators.”
The A320P2F is able to accommodate 10 container and 1 pallet positions in the main deck, and seven container positions in the lower deck.
Given its gross payload of up to 21 tonnes at a maximum range of 1,850nm and total usable containerised volume of 159m3 (5,603ft3), the freighter aircraft has 85% stowage efficiency.
