Aviation News – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has successfully executed the maiden flight of its converted Airbus A330-300 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) aircraft, marking a critical step toward certifying the new widebody cargo platform.
The historic test sortie was conducted out of Tel Aviv as part of the official flight-test campaign for the A330-300BDSF (Bedek Special Freighter) program. During the flight, test pilots and engineers evaluated the aircraft’s handling, structural modifications, and onboard systems across various operational conditions. This milestone validates months of intensive engineering effort by IAI’s Aviation Group and signals the transition from ground-based testing to full airborne certification.
Developed specifically for regional and medium-haul air logistics, the A330-300BDSF program provides cargo operators with a high-capacity alternative in the growing mid-size widebody market. To achieve freighter configuration, technicians removed passenger seating and interior amenities, reinforced the floor structure, and cut a massive main-deck cargo door into the fuselage. The resulting platform offers a payload capacity of up to 61 metric tons and space for 30 standard cargo containers on the main deck.
Extensive structural engineering ensures the modified airframe maintains structural integrity while maximizing cargo throughput. The integration of an advanced electrical cargo loading system and an optimized cargo floor arrangement enables faster loading and unloading, significantly reducing ground turnaround times for express delivery networks.
“This milestone reflects IAI’s continued investment in advanced aviation technologies and industrial engineering capabilities while strengthening our position in the global air cargo market,” stated Guy Bar Lev, President and CEO of IAI. “The A330-300BDSF program expands our conversion portfolio and reinforces our ability to provide flexible, reliable solutions to operators worldwide.”
Looking ahead, IAI will use the ongoing flight-test data to achieve full Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) certification for the A330-300BDSF platform. Once certified, this new conversion offering will enable commercial airlines and air freight operators to extend the operational lifespan of aging passenger aircraft, supplying essential freighter capacity to meet global e-commerce and logistics demand.
