Israel: IAI conducts first flight of converted Airbus A330-300 cargo aircraft
- Caroline Haïat
- 26 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has announced the inaugural flight of its first Airbus A330-300 converted from a passenger aircraft into a freighter, marking a major milestone in the development of its A330-300BDSF program. The Israeli aerospace company aims to further strengthen its position in the global widebody aircraft conversion market.
The successful flight follows the completion of the aircraft’s primary structural work and a series of ground tests carried out by IAI’s Aviation Group. During the flight, the aircraft and its systems were evaluated under various operating conditions as part of the ongoing certification process.
“This milestone demonstrates IAI’s continued investment in advanced aerospace technologies, as well as its engineering and industrial capabilities,” said Guy Bar Lev, President and CEO of IAI.
Up to 61 tons of payload
Designed primarily for regional and medium-haul cargo operations, the A330-300BDSF can carry up to 30 containers, with a maximum payload of 61 tons.
The aircraft features an electric cargo loading system and a configuration designed to optimize cargo flow. The advanced positioning of the main-deck cargo door is also intended to accelerate loading and unloading operations, reducing turnaround times and improving overall operational efficiency.
For IAI, the program is aimed at providing cargo operators with a competitive solution that enables existing aircraft to be rapidly converted and returned to service, while meeting growing demand for air freight capacity worldwide.
A new step in IAI’s strategy
The launch of the A330-300BDSF further expands IAI’s widebody passenger-to-freighter conversion portfolio, which includes expertise across both Airbus and Boeing platforms.
IAI is already behind the Boeing 777-300ERSF conversion program, which the company describes as the world’s first and only program to convert the Boeing 777-300ER into a freighter.
“The successful first flight marks another important milestone in the development of IAI’s widebody conversion capabilities and the A330-300BDSF program’s progress toward certification and commercial entry into service,” said Yaacov Berkovitz, Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI’s Aviation Group.
More than 45 years of experience
IAI has been involved in the conversion of passenger aircraft into freighters for more than 45 years. The company works on both narrowbody and widebody aircraft platforms.
With the development of the A330-300BDSF, the Israeli company is seeking to further consolidate its position in a market driven by growing demand for air cargo capacity and solutions that can extend the operational life of existing aircraft.
The next major milestone will be the certification of the program, followed by its commercial entry into service.
Caroline Haïat
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