Avianor reconfigures first 787, expects more temporary mods

Montreal-based cabin and engineering company Avianor has completed the cargo reconfiguration of the first of two 787 aircraft for Kenya Airways — the first time this kind of modification has been approved on the 787 and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Avianor said that, since October 2020, it has seen a new wave of interest in temporary cargo reconfigurations of passenger aircraft from both airlines and lessors, and expects to modify around six to eight additional aircraft in the next several months. Last year, the company reconfigured 777-300ERs and A330-300s for Air Canada, A340-300s for Hi Fly and A330-200s for Air Transat. Avianor told Air Cargo World that Kenya Airways’ two reconfigured 787s have had virtually all their seats taken out — except a few to be used by crew or to act as a barrier — and now feature 30 cargo-loading zones: 16 capable of 300 kg each and 14 capable of 900 kg each. Avianor, which carried out its first reconfiguration in April 2020 for Air Canada, told Air Cargo World that the 787 poses its own challenges because it uses a seat track design that is different from most other major aircraft types. [caption id="attachment_94392" align="alignright" width="560"] Kenya Airways is the first airline to receive FAA approval for a reconfigured 787. (Photo/Avianor)[/caption] Broadly, Avianor’s reconfiguration package involves the removal of seats from the passenger cabin and the designation of cargo-loading zones on the floor. Cargo is restrained with nets that are attached to the seat rails lining the cabin floor. With the 787, however, the seat tracks are incompatible with the nets used. So Avianor’s engineers designed straps specifically for the 787 that can be affixed to the seat track and added shackles to them; these shackles are then used to hold cargo nets in place. Kenya Airways approached Avianor around August or September 2020. The two companies conducted virtual walkthroughs of the aircraft to confirm the modification, the certification of which had been expected around the end of 2020. Kenya Airways now has approval from the FAA and Kenya’s Civil Aviation Authority. The fact that Kenya Airways sought FAA approval suggests it intends to operate this configuration to the U.S. The airline, which is currently flying around seven of its nine 787-8s in active service, has already been using them for cargo-only flights to destinations such as Amsterdam (AMS), London (LHR), Sharjah (SHJ) and Guangzhou (CAN). Recently, Avianor obtained approval from Transport Canada for the reconfiguration of another new aircraft type: the A340-600. Malta-based AirX Charter, which does not have any cargo aircraft, confirmed to Air Cargo World that it will soon add to its certificate one A340-300 and two A340-600s, all reconfigured for cargo by Avianor, and that it plans to begin operating them from March. Ethiopian Airlines also reconfigured two 787-9s last year , but the extent and nature of that reconfiguration is unclear.

Avianor reconfigures first 787, expects more temporary mods

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Avianor reconfigures first 787, expects more temporary mods

Kenya Airways is the first to obtain FAA approval for a 787 reconfigured in this way, and will soon be flying two.

From belly to boxes: domestic e-commerce delivers SEA cargo in weak year

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FROM OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Consultant Insight: Brighter days may be ahead for automotive supply chain

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Apex reduces retailer lead times and costs, increasing air charters by 225%

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