New freighter aircraft to join Qatar Airways Cargo’s fleet
Qatar Airways Cargo has agreed to purchase freighter aircraft from Mammoth Freighters. The company has become the first customer in a programme to convert Boeing 777-200 passenger jets into freighters.
An agreement has been signed for the delivery of five aircraft, which Qatar Airways will use for its cargo division. Prior to this, Mammoth announced the successful test flight of a converted 777-200LRMF aircraft. The delivery agreement will be realised through US-based Jetran. Jetran is a leading provider of leasing and aviation services.
According to Mark Drush of Qatar Airways, the new freighter aircraft will strengthen the company’s position. Qatar Airways is considered the largest air carrier in the global trade sector. The key advantage of the modernised aircraft is their increased payload capacity. This feature is important for attracting new customers and expanding the air fleet. In addition, the company plans to develop premium services. In this context, the 777-200LRMF is the ideal transport solution.
Conversion features
When it comes to converting Boeing’s 777-200 series aircraft, Mammoth has certainly put in the hard work. Following comprehensive modernisation, the company unveiled a new prototype registered as N705DN. Mammoth CEO Bill Tarpley emphasised the importance of the project. Following several years of planning and designing the aircraft’s structure, Mammoth has unveiled its long-range freighter aircraft. Its specifications make it one of the highest-performing and most fuel-efficient aircraft in its class. The order from Qatar Airways is testament to the aircraft’s potential and to confidence in Mammoth as a whole.
The 777-200LRMF offers several key features:
- Collins Aerospace’s advanced loading system equips the aircraft, ensuring efficient cargo handling.
- Engineers have adapted the solution to meet market needs and optimised it for the model’s capabilities.
- The aircraft is designed to transport a wide variety of cargo types in large volumes.
- It can operate on long-haul routes.
- A built-in fuel optimisation system enhances cost-efficiency, making it a competitive option for air cargo transport.
Mammoth is currently converting seven 777-200s at its facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, and Manchester. The company has also already received orders for 35 aircraft. Mammoth will deliver the first two upgraded aircraft to Qatar, then proceed to fulfil an order from DHL. The latter has ordered nine refurbished aircraft.
Meanwhile, Mammoth is seeking approval from US regulators to use the modernised transport. To this end, they are conducting tests, including those on the smoke alarm system. Once the necessary approval has been obtained, the aircraft will be able to operate commercially. This would significantly expand the company’s customer base and enable it to access new markets.
