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BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft in the UK is responsible for the management, sales and leasing of a portfolio of 40 Advanced Turboprop airliners (ATP) in which BAE SYSTEMS retains a financial interest. |
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regional airline operator. With high build standards and low operating costs, low internal and external noise levels and outstanding passenger comfort, the ATP is a natural successor to first-generation turboprops. At present, the majority of ATPs are configured as regional passenger airliners, but in a variety of new programme initiatives instigated by Regional Aircraft, the ATP is now being made available as a freighter. The first initiative involved a joint programme with cargo airline, West Air Sweden. The airline had originally acquired six ATPs from a US regional airline and converted five to freighters with an E-Class bulk freight interior. Since then a further five aircraft have been acquired and also converted to bulk freighters. The converted aircraft are in service on West Air Sweden’s internal Swedish overnight freight routes where they are augmenting the airline’s existing BAe 748 freighter fleet on a selected route- by-route basis. They are also in service in Europe on behalf of the major integrators. The ATP offers 35% more freight capacity and volume for a 10% cost increase over the BAe 748 and is demonstrating near 100% dispatch reliability. Large freight door In parallel, BAE SYSTEMS at Prestwick, (the design authority), has designed a Large Freight Door (LFD) that, in conjunction with installation work carried out by West Air Sweden, has received CAA approval and the issue of a service bulletin. West Air Sweden completed the fitting of the LFD on the first ATP freighter (ATPF) at its Lidköping facility and the aircraft made its first flight on July 10. It made its international debut at the Farnborough International 2002 Air Show in July. The freight door is based upon the existing BAe 748 freight door and takes advantage of the extended fuselage to move the door aperture forward into the parallel fuselage section. The door is rearward sliding and has an aperture height of 67.75 inches and an aperture width of 103.5 inches. With West Air Sweden already demonstrating the suitability of the ATP as a dedicated bulk freighter, the installation of a large freight door increases the flexibility of the aircraft and enables large individual freight items such as aero-engines to be transported, as well as unit load devices such as LD3 and LD4 containers. Regional Aircraft is also working with FlyBe who are designing another E-Class bulk freight interior that is also being offered to the market. This freight interior will be CAA-approved and the design is nearing completion. This interior can also be adapted to provide a freight interior for aircraft with the Large Freight Door fitted. In a new development, agreement has been reached between Regional Aircraft and Romaero of Baneasa, Bucharest under which 10 Large Freight Door kits are being manufactured for an installation programme. The first ATPF with LFD fitted was completed by Romaero in June 2004 and delivered to West Air Sweden. The second aircraft from Romaero was completed and delivered, also to West Air Sweden on August 20. Since then, the market has realised the benefits of the cost effective LFD solution offered by BAE Systems and a further customer – Emerald Airways – was added in October 2004. Market interest in the conversion is now very high. The ATPF is among the first new generation turboprops to come to the market with a large door installation programme that will result in an eight tonne freighter, whilst meeting all the environmental and economic needs of today’s cargo market. The reliability and economics of the existing ageing six tonne freighters such as the Fokker F27 and BAe 748 are starting to decline, with stringent noise and emissions restrictions beginning to bite. The ATPF is a logical replacement with improved efficiency and environmental acceptability, together with increased range, speed and cargo payload capacity. |
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