OREANDA-NEWS. June 18, 2008. In Berlin a package of documents is signed to specify further cooperation between Russia and Western Europe in converting A320/А321 passenger aircraft into freighters.

Among the documents signed there are the Agreement on the joint design and development works between JSC “Irkut Corporation”, Joint Venture “Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH (AFC)”, Airbus S.A.S. and Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) GmbH  (the latter two being 100% EADS affiliates) and the Agreement between JV AFC and Irkut Corporation ruling the delivery of all components and assemblies necessary for the conversion to the German conversion center. The agreements’ volume amounts to 370 Mio.USD.

The Agreement to launch the conversion project of А320/А321 passenger aircraft into freighters was reached on the 22nd March 2007. From the Russian side the participants are JSC “UAC” and Irkut Corporation, from the European side – Airbus S.A.S. and EFW GmbH. In May 2007 in Germany (Dresden) the Joint Venture Airbus Freighter Conversion GmbH (AFC). The project works commenced in December 2007 at the facilities in Toulouse, Hamburg, Bremen and Dresden.

The Russian side’s share in the JV amounts to 50% and will be evenly split between the UAC and Irkut Corporation, the other 50% to be distributed between Airbus (18%) and EADS aircraft manufacturing facility in Dresden — Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (32%).

During the conversion procedure the passenger cabin is dismantled and a new reinforced floor and up/download equipment are installed. In order to simplify loading, a bigger cargo hatch is cut in the aircraft fuselage. All the components required for conversion (Kits) are to be manufactured at the Irkutsk Aviation plant. The first converted prototype is planned for 2011. According to the preliminary estimation the JV annual turnover may reach 200 Mio.USD with the forecasted market capacity up to 400 freighters by 2025.

Further expanding the cooperation of Irkut with EADS is the successful A320 components’ manufacturing at Irkutsk Aviation plant. By now all the necessary clearances from Airbus have been received and Irkut is launching the series production of components fully made of parts produced at Irkutsk Aviation plant.

At the signing of the cooperation agreements the following were present: UAC President Alexei Fedorov, Irkut President Oleg Demchenko, CEO of AFC Lars Becker, CEO of Elbe Flugzeugwerke Dr. Andreas Sperl and Executive Vice President of Airbus S.A.S Christian Scherer.

At the signing Alexei Fedorov highlighted the fact that for the first time in the history of Russian aircraft industry Irkut Corporation enjoys the status of Airbus partner and not just of first- or second-tier supplier while gaining the valuable experience of managing a complex international project with the participation of many Russian and foreign companies.

In his turn Oleg Demchenko stated: "In the course of this project Irkut is accomplishing a large-scale technological refurbishing of its production facilities and acquires new competences and qualifications in the passenger aircraft domain".

According to Lars Becker, this unique project joins the efforts of three partner-countries, Russia, Germany and France in creating А-320 freighters highly demanded in the world market. “No doubt this turns a new page in the cooperation of the leading aircraft manufacturers – EADS, Airbus, UAC, Irkut, said Becker. We are sure that this experience will strengthen further cooperation between our countries".