Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has completed the maiden flight of its Airbus A330-300 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion, marking a key milestone in the certification campaign for its A330-300BDSF programme.
The successful flight follows completion of the aircraft’s primary structural work and extensive ground testing by IAI’s Aviation Group. During the flight, the aircraft and its systems were assessed under multiple operating conditions as part of the ongoing certification process.
Designed for regional and medium-haul cargo operations, the A330-300BDSF can carry up to 30 containers and a payload of up to 61 tonnes. The freighter features an electrically powered cargo loading system and an optimised cargo flow layout.
A main-deck cargo door positioned towards the forward section of the aircraft is designed to speed up loading and unloading, helping operators improve efficiency and reduce turnaround times.
The maiden flight brings IAI’s A330-300BDSF programme a step closer to certification and entry into service.
