The Bedek Aviation Group of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has recently signed a partnership agreement with the Chinese Haite Group, through its subsidiary Tianjin Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd., to co-develop a program for conversion of the B737NG passenger aircraft into a special freighter. The collaboration was announced today at the 2017 Paris Air Show.
Bedek and Tianjin expect the new partnership will be up and running quickly so that the first Converted B737-700 Aircraft is certified and delivered to their launching customer. Development of a program for passenger to special freighter conversion of Boeing 737-800 has already begun under the same co-development cooperation. If the project progresses according to schedule, it is expected to make Bedek group one of the first suppliers to reach the market with a certified Supplemental Type Certificate (STC).
Yosi Melamed, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Bedek Aviation Group, said in a statement: “Our partnership with the Haite Group has come at the right time in light of the projected continued growth in the demand for conversion into freighters and even more so, in view of the fast economic growth in China and India. The B737NG is the future ‘feedstock’ of the narrow body freighters and we expect to be one of the first suppliers with an STC and a high-quality solution for the B737-800 that meets the growing market needs”.
Haite Tianjin Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. is a well-known highly qualified China-Based MRO enterprise, specializing in repair, maintenance, inspection, modification and overhaul of passenger’s aircraft. The company has established aircraft overhaul and conversion sites in Chengdu and Tianjin.
IAI’s Bedek Aviation Group is a leading global aviation maintenance center, with over 60 years of experience, offering the full range of services for aviation maintenance – from aircraft upgrades and repairs, to modernization and more than 25 years of experience in conversion programs of wide range of aircraft such as B737-300/400, B767-200/300 & B747-200/400. Bedek is one of the worldwide leaders in cargo conversion programs and among its customers are leading cargo operators, passenger airlines and lessors. Bedek provides cost-effective, total maintenance support packages through its Full Services Provider Programs.