SINGAPORE—ST Engineering’s prototype Airbus A320 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft made its maiden flight on Dec. 8, nine months after its conversion process began.
The A320, registered D-AAES, took off from Seletar airport at around 5 p.m. local time and returned after a 20 min. test flight.
Touted by ST Engineering as the world’s first A320P2F, the aircraft is destined for Vaayu Group, which has signed a letter of commitment to lease up to five A320P2Fs from ST Engineering’s leasing arm, ST Engineering Aerospace Resources. The aircraft is expected to receive its supplemental type certification from EASA in the coming weeks and will be delivered to the client by the first half of 2022.
The Singapore MRO firm also delivered the third A321P2F to Qantas Freight ahead of the Christmas season. The former Jetstar aircraft VH-VWY will be part of Qantas Freight’s fleet flying for Australia Post. It re-entered service on Dec. 6.
The A320P2F has 11 pallet positions in the main deck and seven in the bellyhold with a total usable volume of 160 m3 (5,650 ft.3). The A321P2F has 14 and 10 positions in the main and belly hold, respectively. Structurally, the A320P2F differs from its longer cousin with its rear doors, which are deactivated instead of removed and plugged. The main cargo door and crew access door sections are also riveted together, instead of the 80 in. gap on the A321P2F.
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