Boeing, ST Aero and IAI offer new 757-200 Special Freighter

Boeing, Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aero) and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) today announced a new conversion option for cargo operators - the 757-200 Special Freighter. 

The Boeing 757-200 Special Freighter provides an ideal replacement for the very popular yet older 727-200 freighter. It will carry approximately 20 percent more freight at the same trip cost.

"We are pleased that ST Aero and IAI are offering air cargo operators a passenger-to-freighter conversion solution that will help them take advantage of the rising air cargo market," said Mike Stewart, vice president of freighter conversions for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "We've worked together very successfully on other engineering and modification programs, and I fully expect our excellent relationship to continue on this latest endeavour."

The three companies are building upon experience they gained converting 34 Boeing 757-200 passenger airplanes to freighters for DHL Worldwide Express. For this new program, Boeing will license its 757-200 data to ST Aero and IAI, who will, in turn, develop and market a new supplemental type certificate. ST Aero and IAI expect to introduce the first Boeing 757-200 for conversion by the third quarter of 2005.

The companies estimate the cargo industry will need 200 to 300 medium standard-body freighters in the next 20 years, and most of those will come from passenger-to-freighter conversions.

Since entry into service in December 1982, more than 900 757-200 passenger airplanes have been delivered to 52 customers worldwide.

High-bypass-ratio engines combined with the efficient wing design make the 757 one of the quietest, most fuel-efficient airplanes in the world. Noise levels are significantly lower than the requirements set forth in the U.S. Federal Aviation Regulation Part 36, Stage 3, as well as International Civil Aviation Organization Annex 16 Chapter 3.