De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited announced that Aero Transporte S.A. (ATSA), based in Peru, has signed an agreement for the conversion of a Dash 8-400 aircraft from passenger to freighter.
With this agreement, ATSA becomes the first South American operator to join the cargo solutions programme for the Dash 8-400. The Peruvian airline ordered the Dash 8-400 F-LCD version.
This will equip the aircraft with a large cargo door (LCD) and a cargo system that will facilitate the proper movement of cargo containers or pallets.
«As an experienced operator of the Dash 8-400 aircraft, we have first-hand knowledge of its outstanding performance capability to support our expanding cargo operations in Peru’s mining sector. Our country’s complex geography that includes arid coastal plains, the Andean mountains, and the rain forests of the Amazon basin, make the Dash 8-400 aircraft the ideal choice for this type of operation,» said Carlos Cueva, President of ATSA.
The 107 x 71.5 inch (2.7 x 1.8 m) cargo door will handle typical containers such as LD1, LD2, LD3 and LD4.
This would allow interline transfer of containers from other aircraft in an operator’s network. It is ideal for hub-and-spoke network operators, as well as major logistics operators. It will be able to carry up to 21,400 pounds of cargo (9,706 kilograms) in 78.6 cubic metres with a range of up to 1,640 nautical miles (3,037 kilometres).
De Havilland Canada will carry out the conversion of ATSA’s Dash 8-400 F-LCD in Canada, using the manufacturer’s Transport Canada-approved services.
ATSA currently operates two Dash 8-400 passenger aircraft from Lima (LIM), Peru, with flights to Chachapoyas (CHH), Mazamari (MZA), Huanuco (HUU) and charter flights for the mining sector.
«We are delighted to welcome ATSA to our cargo solutions program and we wish the airline all the best with its expanding operations to support more cargo transport,» said Philippe Poutissou, vice president of sales and marketing for De Havilland Canada.
