The CAAC certification applies to EFW’s A330 Passenger-to-Freighter aircraft conversion program, which includes two variants, the Airbus A330-200 and the A330-300 aircraft.
Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a joint venture between ST Engineering and Airbus and a center of excellence for Airbus Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions, has achieved a significant milestone with the validation of its Supplement Type Certification (V-STC) by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The certification applies to EFW’s A330 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) aircraft conversion program, which includes two variants, the A330-200 and the A330-300. This achievement coincided with the delivery of the first-ever A330 freighter converted in China to CDB Aviation for leasing to Sichuan Airlines in April.
The validation of the V-STC by the Chinese authorities is an important step for EFW, as it allows customers with Airbus A330 aircraft registered in China to easily undergo conversions under the EFW program. This development strengthens EFW’s collaboration with Chinese partners and opens up new opportunities in the growing Chinese market.
Jordi Boto, CEO, Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH said, “Offering conversions in China to serve the high demand in this growing market was an important strategic decision for EFW. We are very pleased to have successfully started this journey together with CDB Aviation, our first customer with A330P2F conversions on three continents, and we are very grateful for the trust they have placed in us.”
The A330P2F aircraft for CDB Aviation underwent conversion at ST Engineering’s airframe facility in Shanghai, Shanghai Technologies Aerospace Company, marking EFW’s first-ever A330P2F conversion in China. The A330P2F program has gained popularity as the preferred next-generation platform in the medium to widebody category, meeting the strong market demand for Airbus freighter conversions.
To cater to the increasing demand for Airbus freighter conversions, EFW and ST Engineering have established a total of nine conversion sites worldwide in recent years. These sites enable the ramping up of total conversion capacity for all Airbus P2F programs, including the A330P2F, A320P2F, and A321P2F. In addition to Shanghai, China is also home to other conversion sites, such as Chengdu for A330P2F and Guangzhou and Tianjin for A321P2F, the latter being a third-party conversion site operated by Haite.
EFW’s A330P2F program is the result of collaboration between EFW, ST Engineering, and Airbus. EFW holds the Supplemental Type Certificate and leads in the overall program as well as marketing and sales efforts. The A330P2F program offers two variants, the A330-200P2F and A330-300P2F, both equipped with advanced technology that provides airlines with additional operational and economic benefits. The A330-200P2F can carry a gross payload of up to 60 tons over a range of more than 7,700 km, while the larger A330-300P2F can carry a gross payload of up to 62 tons and a containerized volume of approximately 18,581 ft3 (526 m3).
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With the successful validation of the V-STC by the CAAC, EFW is well-positioned to meet the increasing demand for efficient and reliable freighter conversions in China. This achievement further solidifies EFW’s position as a leading provider of Airbus P2F conversions and reinforces its commitment to delivering innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the global aviation industry.
