Cathay Pacific starts Boeing 747-400 freighter conversion

Cathay Pacific starts Boeing 747-400 freighter conversion

Cathay Pacific starts Boeing 747-400 freighter
conversion

   Cathay Pacific Airways held a ceremony Thursday in Xiamen to mark the start of
work of the first ever conversion of a Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft into a
freighter, the Boeing 747-400SF, or Special Freighter.
The prototype 747-400SF is being converted at the Taikoo Aircraft
Engineering Co. Ltd. engineering works in Xiamen from a former Cathay Pacific
passenger aircraft. It will be completely gutted and rebuilt inside with new
structural beams and a stronger floor able to support the weight of more than
113 tons of freight.
Cathay Pacific has signed up for at least six and as many as 12 of
the 747-400SF aircraft. The others will be converted from passenger 747-400
aircraft acquired from other airlines.
"Making freighters from passenger aircraft is a quick and cost
effective way for the airline to meet growing demand for air cargo services.
Conversion programs exist for other Boeing aircraft but the 747-400SF will offer
greater payload and range," Cathay Pacific said.