Israel Aerospace Industries’ Bedek Aviation Group (IAI/Bedek) has reached the milestone of cutting the opening in the fuselage to install the Main Deck Cargo Door on its first B767-300ER aircraft conversion from Pax to the Bedek Special Freighter (BDSF) configuration.
 
This landmark was celebrated on February 17th at the IAI facility at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel. The ceremony was attended by the management of IAI/Bedek, EuroAtlantic and M&B Conversions of Dublin, Ireland, a joint venture company of Mitsui & Co. of Japan and IAI/Bedek.

The aircraft belongs to EuroAtlantic Airlines of Portugal, a Passenger Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) airline. This will be EuroAtlantic’s first cargo aircraft and signifies the company’s intention to expand its operations into the freighter market.

The B767-300 BDSF conversion program is developed by IAI/Bedek for M&B Conversions. IAI/Bedek is also the subcontractor for the development of the product and for the performance of the conversions.

“We know that IAI has the important experience and the quality we are looking for, which was the main reason we chose to work with them. The timing and the price were also important factors,” said Euclides Batalha, Vice President and Board Member of EuroAtlantic, at the ceremony.

Dany Kleiman, IAI’s Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Bedek Aviation Group said: “Aircraft conversion is a core business of IAI/Bedek Aviation Group and is one of the growth areas of IAI overall. EuroAtlantic is our partner, not only our customer, and we will meet their business objectives.”

IAI/Bedek’s passenger to freighter conversion product line includes also: B737-300, B737-400, B767-200, and B747-400 aircraft.

Source: Israel Aerospace Industries