Chinese aircraft manufacturer COMAC has completed the conversion of the second ARJ-21 jet into a freighter and delivered it to China Central Longhao Airlines. According to FlightRadar24 data, the registered aircraft B-3388 (MSN 109) conducted two test flights in late April.
The five-year-old aircraft was delivered to Chengdu Airlines in March 2018 and returned to COMAC in September 2021 for conversion to a freighter. During the process, a new main cargo door was installed, and the main cabin floor was reinforced to support the weight of cargo.
On April 27 and 28, the jet performed two test flights, operating from Guangzhou Airport (CAN), one of the bases of China Central Longhao Airlines.
ARJ-21 (F) Program
The ARJ-21 (F) will be able to transport a maximum payload of 10 tons and accommodate various types of standard pallets (ULD) in its cargo hold. The aircraft will feature specially designed fire extinguishing and air conditioning systems.
The new main cargo door will be equipped with an electric system for operation. The cabin floor will be reinforced to support the weight of commercial cargo pallets.
COMAC aims to make the ARJ-21 (F) a key aircraft in China’s air cargo business. Over 100 passenger ARJ-21s have been built and delivered to nine customers in China and Indonesia. Chengdu Airlines is the largest operator of the model, with a fleet of 25 ARJ-21s.
The first converted ARJ-21 freighter, with registration B-3329 (MSN 112), is expected to be delivered to YTO Cargo Airlines in the coming days.
China Central Longhao Airlines
China Central Longhao Airlines, a cargo airline founded in 2015, operates from its bases at Zhengzhou and Guangzhou airports. The company flies to a wide range of domestic and international destinations, including Moscow and Brussels.
Before the arrival of the ARJ-21 (F), the airline’s fleet comprised 11 aircraft:
- 5 Boeing 737-300F
- 1 Boeing 737-400F
- 5 Boeing 737-800BCF
- 1 Boeing 747-400.
