South African Airlink has signed a
deal with Falko, an aircraft lease and finance company for the
international marketing of its Jetstream 41 Freighter Conversion
modification.
According to Falko, the conversion
has been designed to suit SA Airlink's own needs, but the airline
believes it will have a strong international appeal for other
Jetstream 41 operators.
"We see a growing need for a small
and cost-efficient freighter aircraft to feed air cargo into our
Johannesburg hub and the Jetstream 41 fits the bill perfectly.
We've designed the conversion to be
convertible so that there is maximum flexibility to respond to
changing market requirements. We feel that this aspect will appeal
to other operators of the aircraft which is why we have retained
Falko to market the conversion to the Jetstream 41 customer base,"
says Mr. Rodger Foster, Chief Executive Officer, SA Airlink.
Falko notes further that the first
of two Jetstream 41s from the airline's fleet of 13 aircraft has
already been converted from 29-seat passenger to 3 tonne freighter
aircraft. Designed to European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
requirements, Falko states that this first aircraft has received
South African Civil Aviation Authority certification as an STC
(Supplemental Type Certificate). It reveals that work has commenced
to convert the second aircraft.