Hatfield, Hertfordshire….Falko has signed an agreement with South African airline SA Airlink for the international marketing of its Jetstream 41 freighter conversion modification.

This conversion has been designed to suit SA Airlink’s own requirements, but the airline believes it will have a strong international appeal for other Jetstream 41 operators.

Rodger Foster, Chief Executive Officer of SA Airlink said today: “We see a growing need for a small and cost-efficient freighter aircraft to feed air cargo into our Johannesburg hub and the Jetstream 41 fits the bill perfectly. We’ve designed the conversion to be convertible so that there is maximum flexibility to respond to changing market requirements. We feel that this aspect will appeal to other operators of the aircraft which is why we have retained Falko to market the conversion to the Jetstream 41 customer base.”

The first of two Jetstream 41s from the airline’s fleet of 13 aircraft has already been converted from 29-seat passenger to 3 tonne freighter aircraft. Designed to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requirements, this first aircraft has received South African Civil Aviation Authority certification as an STC (Supplemental Type Certificate). Work has now started to convert the second aircraft.

SA Airlink’s wholly owned subsidiary company, Airlink Cargo International (Pty) Limited, will market and sell the capacity, targeting express parcel service operators as their market.

SA Airlink will operate the first aircraft on international regional routes from Johannesburg including Harare, Maseru, Gaborone, and Maputo. Domestic routes will also feature in SA Airlink’s intended dedicated freight network. SA Airlink already provides express freight services throughout its 29 point network within the bellies of its passenger aircraft. SA Airlink expects to convert all 13 of its Jetstream 41 aircraft into freighters in the near term for deployment within its rapidly developing dedicated freight network.

Nigel Benson, Director Freighter Programmes for Falko commented: “The original design concept for the Jetstream 41 always envisaged the aircraft could be used eventually as a freighter, and the SA Airlink design is an elegant and practical conversion which we are delighted to take to the Jetstream 41 customer community.”

He added: “Although we see the market for the conversion as being of benefit to our customers to offer them additional uses for their aircraft, we can foresee this development also being of wider application. Currently there are around 100 older 3-4 tonne freighters in service worldwide, as well as close to 500 smaller and much older 2- tonne freighters such as the Fairchild Metro, Beech 1900 and Embraer Bandeirante which will be coming up for replacement and for which the growth in freight traffic will demand a slighter larger aircraft.”

The convertible conversion means that the aircraft can be changed back into passenger configuration during a scheduled maintenance hangar visit such as an ‘A’ Check.

Under the conversion the passenger cabin features of the aircraft such as sidewall panels, acoustic lining, passenger service units, seat and carpets are all removed. The sidewall panels are replaced by six pods which are assembled inside the aircraft and attached to the seat rails to give structural integrity to meet the 9G requirement. Each pod includes a forward and aft net to secure the cargo. In addition, a fire detection system is introduced, together with a forward smoke barrier and aft cargo net.

The Jetstream 41 is well-suited to the freighter role with its large cabin cross-section and existing large rear baggage door which measures 4ft 5 inches (1.346 metres) in width x 4ft 3 inches (1.295 metre) in height. Over 23 cubic metres (843 cu ft) of potential freight volume are available. The payload of more than three tonnes (6614 lbs) can be carried over distances up to 450 nautical miles.