JADE has completed its first passenger to cargo cabin (P2C) conversion programme on a Boeing B777-300ER for launch customer, Singapore Airlines (SIA). JADE (Jamco Aero Design and Engineering) is a subsidiary of Jamco Corporation and Singapore Airlines Engineering Company (SIAEC).
Global travel restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic saw many passenger airlines pivot their operations by launching cargo-only flights on passenger aircraft, with cargo secured on the passenger seats. Although this approach could be deployed immediately, the cargo permitted to be carried in the cabin is limited by the size of the seats. Airlines also have to bear the risk of any damage caused to the seats during cargo loading.
In response JADE and SIAEC developed a more refined solution for SIA as part of a Jamco’s ‘Project Blue Sky’ initiative, involving the removal of passenger seats from two zones in the cabin to allow cargo to be secured on the passenger cabin floor. This approach maximises the cargo capacity in the passenger cabin and reduces the dead weight of the aircraft, which in turn creates fuel savings for the airline. The removed seats can be safely stored, eliminating the risk of damage during cargo loading. The retrofitted P2C aircraft can now carry up to 193,000 lbs (87,543kg) of cargo, a 12% increase in cargo capacity from a standard B777-300ER.
JADE’s P2C conversion on the Boeing B777-300ER is the first solution to be awarded a Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). According to the company, the conversion also meets the set requirements for FAA and EASA STC approvals.
