Airbus twinjet set to expand line-up of Israeli cargo modification specialist.
Israel Aerospace Industries has carried out the first flight of its Airbus A330-300 converted freighter, commencing airborne testing for the twinjet’s certification campaign.
The A330-300BDSF will bring an Airbus model to IAI’s line-up of Boeing freighter conversion programmes.
It will have a payload capability of up to 61t and capacity for up to 30 containers.
The aircraft is designed with a forward main-deck cargo door and an electrical freight-loading system.
IAI’s initial converted airframe is MSN1574, a Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered twinjet, formerly used by Spanish carrier Air Europa.
Over the course of the flight, the aerospace firm says, the aircraft underwent system evaluation across “multiple operational conditions”.
“Successful completion of the first flight marks another important step in expanding IAI’s widebody conversion capabilities,” says IAI aviation group general manager Yaacov Berkovitz.
“[Our] approach is designed around the customer’s requirement for quick entry into service, supporting accelerated operational readiness and earlier revenue realisation.”
IAI already offers modification of Boeing 777-300ERs, 767-200s and -300s, and 737-700s and -800s.
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