17 Mar 2003
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft and British European Aviation Services today announced that agreement has been reached under which the Exeter-based maintenance, repair and overhaul organisation will design an E-Class freight interior for the ATP regional turboprop airliner in collaboration with the manufacturer.
This design will differ in several respects from the E-Class ATP freight interior carried out by West Air Sweden and will mean that freight airlines looking to acquire the aircraft will have a second option for both the interior configuration and fitting centre.
To ensure the new interior is certificated and offered to the market in the quickest possible time-scale BAE Systems has placed one ATP (msn 2044) into Exeter to assist with the design and conversion. BAE Systems is in discussion with British European for the conversion this year of this aircraft and a number of others.
The key emphasis with this new E-Class interior design is for maximum flexibility to create a generalised generic freighter. Although designed primarily to allow the use of the ATP as a bulk freighter, the interior can also be adapted to provide a freight interior for aircraft with the Large Freight Door fitted. This interior also will have UK CAA approval.
The design - which is now 60% complete - will incorporate a new 9G forward net supplied by Bridport (UK) Ltd as well as 3G vertical nets along the length of the fuselage. The inclusion of the 9G net means that the 3G nets can be moved around the fuselage, allowing the zoning of freight to be altered to suit different loads. Further, this 9G net can also be used in a large freight door ATP in conjunction with unit load devices (ULDs) such as LD3 containers.
Additional modifications to the aircraft are required due to the loss of cabin access by the flight crew. BAE Systems Regional Aircraft at Prestwick (the design authority) is designing the relocation of the main undercarriage emergency release handle from its present position under the mid-cabin fuselage floor to the flight deck. A secondary means of viewing the main undercarriage downlock status on the flight deck is also being designed as the current nacelle-mounted indicators need cabin window access for viewing.
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft is actively marketing the ATP freighter in both bulk-loading E-Class and Large Freight Door configurations and it is anticipated that market interest will be stimulated by the early availability of converted aircraft.
About BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft:
BAE Systems Regional Aircraft is responsible for Customer Support, Engineering and Asset Management activities covering a world-wide base of 160 customers operating over 1,100 aircraft in addition to managing a trading and leasing portfolio of some 450 aircraft.
About BAE SYSTEMS:
BAE Systems is a systems company, innovating for a safer world. BAE Systems employs nearly 100,000 people including Joint Ventures, and has annual sales of around 12 billion. The company offers a global capability in air, sea, land and space with a world-class prime contracting ability supported by a range of key skills. BAE Systems designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defence products. BAE Systems is dedicated to making the intelligent connections needed to deliver innovative solutions.
