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    Freighter Aircraft Analysis: Advertise in

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    The article discusses a new proposed freighter conversion concept called LCF (low-cost freighter) that would use lifts to move cargo between the lower and main cargo decks of widebody aircraft through existing lower deck cargo doors, avoiding the need for and costs associated with a large main deck cargo door. The concept is being proposed for conversion of the A340-300, which could carry similar cargo volume to a 767-300ERF but at significantly lower acquisition costs and with better payload-range capabilities. While the concept may offer lower costs than a traditional passenger-to-freighter conversion, operators would still need to consider other factors such as operating costs, cargo type and route requirements when evaluating it versus competing models.

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    Freighter Aircraft Analysis: Advertise in

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    Cook Food
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    The article discusses a new proposed freighter conversion concept called LCF (low-cost freighter) that would use lifts to move cargo between the lower and main cargo decks of widebody aircraft through existing lower deck cargo doors, avoiding the need for and costs associated with a large main deck cargo door. The concept is being proposed for conversion of the A340-300, which could carry similar cargo volume to a 767-300ERF but at significantly lower acquisition costs and with better payload-range capabilities. While the concept may offer lower costs than a traditional passenger-to-freighter conversion, operators would still need to consider other factors such as operating costs, cargo type and route requirements when evaluating it versus competing models.

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    The article discusses a new proposed freighter conversion concept called LCF (low-cost freighter) that would use lifts to move cargo between the lower and main cargo decks of widebody aircraft through existing lower deck cargo doors, avoiding the need for and costs associated with a large main deck cargo door. The concept is being proposed for conversion of the A340-300, which could carry similar cargo volume to a 767-300ERF but at significantly lower acquisition costs and with better payload-range capabilities. While the concept may offer lower costs than a traditional passenger-to-freighter conversion, operators would still need to consider other factors such as operating costs, cargo type and route requirements when evaluating it versus competing models.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    15 views1 page

    Freighter Aircraft Analysis: Advertise in

    Uploaded by

    Cook Food
    The article discusses a new proposed freighter conversion concept called LCF (low-cost freighter) that would use lifts to move cargo between the lower and main cargo decks of widebody aircraft through existing lower deck cargo doors, avoiding the need for and costs associated with a large main deck cargo door. The concept is being proposed for conversion of the A340-300, which could carry similar cargo volume to a 767-300ERF but at significantly lower acquisition costs and with better payload-range capabilities. While the concept may offer lower costs than a traditional passenger-to-freighter conversion, operators would still need to consider other factors such as operating costs, cargo type and route requirements when evaluating it versus competing models.

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    of 1

    The Air Freight and Express Industry Newsletter of Record

    FREIGHTER AIRCRAFT ANALYSIS


    Does a Freighter Really Need a Large Main-deck Cargo Door?

    Illustraion of the A340-300 in LCF configuration

    Aft platform lift

    Forward platform lift

    Aft lower-deck cargo door

    Forward lower-deck cargo door

    How important is a main deck cargo door? That is the question being asked concept (see the accompanying diagram). A340-300s are out of favor as
    by the team at LCF Conversions and Seattle-based design and certification passenger carriers, providing ample feedstock at very attractive prices.
    company ACE Corp. Together they are proposing a new low-cost freighter Furthermore, the cost of freighter conversion of the A340-300 via the LCF
    (LCF) conversion program, using a patented cargo loading concept. Cargo approach is quoted at just $6.5 million, including the cargo loading sys-
    Facts was exposed to this out-of-the-box thinking when we met recently tem. The A340-300LCF would have about the same total cargo volume as
    with Cliff Duke of LCF Conversions. a 767-300ERF, but the LCF would have significantly better payload range
    capability: 66.7 tonnes at 5,400 nm for the A340-300LCF versus 57.3 tonnes
    The LCF concept loads cargo on conventional pallets and containers (in- at 3,250 nm for the 767-300ERF. The LCF concept could be applied to
    cluding industry-standard 96 x 125 inch ULDs) through the existing lower other A340 models, as well as to various versions of the 777 when feed-
    deck cargo doors of widebody aircraft. The cargo is then moved to/from stock prices reach attractive levels. LCF Conversions is some 12 months
    the main deck by two “Main Deck LCF Platform Lifts,” one serving the from certification once a launch customer has been secured.
    forward belly hold and the other the aft belly hold. These lifts become an  
    integral, load-bearing part of the main deck floor during flight. Of course, low acquisition cost is only one factor potential customers must
      take into consideration when evaluating the A340-300LCF versus compet-
    An obvious limitation to this approach is that pallets/containers are re- ing models. Also important are direct operating costs (most notably fuel),
    stricted to a height of 64 inches, although given the increasing importance operational range requirements, density of the cargo to be carried, monthly
    of belly freight in widebody passenger aircraft such as the 777, this may be utilization rates, the need to carry oversize loads, and fleet commonality.
    less of a problem than it once would have been -- we note that today some
    60% of air freight is transported in the bellies of passenger and freighter It is too early to say whether the LCF concept is a game-changing idea. It
    aircraft, and subjected to this limitation. gives airlines and express companies an intriguing option to consider in
      the medium-widebody freighter market which is expected to see significant
    On the other hand, there are a number of potential advantages of the LCF growth in the years ahead, and where there is clearly no one-size-fits-all
    approach over the conventional P-to-F conversion approach that includes solution. cf
    the installation of a large main-deck cargo door. Because it does not have
    such a main-deck cargo door, the LCF avoids the need to make any changes
    to the external structure of the aircraft, nor are any changes made to the Advertise in
    main deck floor (other than those needed to accommodate the fore and
    aft lifts). Thus LCF Conversions foresees a straightforward certification
    process, and says the cost of conversion of a medium-widebody aircraft
    using the LCF approach will be significantly lower than the cost using the
    current P-to-F approach.  Call Joshua Ernst at +1 212 991 6735
     
     Email jernst@cargofacts.com
    Duke sees the A340-300 as a model particularly well-suited to the LCF

    www.CargoFacts.net • April 2012 17

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