Passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion solutions provider Avensis Aviation has announced that USC GmbH is the launch customer for the company’s NAVIS PTF main deck cargo door conversion to be installed in its Airbus A340-300 and A340-600 aircraft.
USC, a new airline based in Germany, will start operations early this summer with a fleet of A340-300s and A340-600s. According to Avensis, the aircraft will be initially used in passenger (ACMI) service, being modified at the earliest opportunity to Avensis’ full size cargo door.
Cristian Sutter, Chief Executive Officer of Avensis Aviation, said: “NAVIS is our flagship PTF conversion and it is aimed at lessors and established cargo airlines that demand a permanent, innovative and cost-effective PTF solution. The innovative “plug type” main deck cargo door is fully electrically operated, lightweight, and safer due to its locking mechanism design”.
“We are thrilled to announce USC as the launch customer for our NAVIS PTF conversion. The Airbus A340 provides a competitive aircraft freighter platform for the express market by offering payload, volume and performance advantages, particularly for ultra long haul routes such as Asia and other far flown cargo hubs.”
The NAVIS PTF conversion introduces an industry first “plug-type” main deck cargo door (MDCD) and features a separated crew cabin section, a 9G rigid cargo barrier, a full Class E cargo compartment and a main deck cargo loading system. With reduced conversion downtime, while enabling a more flexible, faster and cost-effective operational performance, Avensis says its NAVIS solution is the new PTF cargo door conversion benchmark.
The aircraft will first be converted to a CLASS E freighter using the MEDIUS PTF solution by Avensis, enabling USC to take advantage of operating cargo revenue flights whist the elements of the NAVIS conversion are produced.
