Wichita State University and Erickson launch Airbus 321 P2F conversion programme
22 / 08 / 2022
Airbus 321 P2F programme launches. Photo: Wichita University
Wichita State University’s (WSU) National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) WERX and Erickson Precision Ventures LLC have announced their first collaborative passenger to freighter (P2F) conversion program of an Airbus 321.
In May, the organisations announced a collaborative agreement to perform as many as 24 conversions per year beginning in 2023, including modification, maintenance and engineering of the aircraft.
“The NIAR team, resources and facilities offer 321 Precision Conversions a unique opportunity to add an expansive mod centre to our portfolio of installation facilities,” said Gary Warner, Erickson Precision Ventures president. “The scale of the operations here in Wichita are truly impressive, and seeing the level of support from Wichita State University levels gives us all the confidence in the future of the programme.”
The MRO team at NIAR WERX provides production design, initial and Supplemental Type Certification, instrumentation installation, modifications and field support/repair.
“We’re thrilled to add another aircraft to the NIAR conversion portfolio,” said NIAR WERX executive director David Jones. “The agreement with Erickson Precision Ventures allows us to continue to train and prepare Wichita State and WSU Tech students for careers in aviation maintenance and engineering, while expanding the expertise and capability of the Wichita and Kansas workforce.”
In addition to full-time engineers and engineering students at WSU-NIAR, the conversion programme will involve the efforts of WSU Tech students through the Get to WERX programme. Get to WERX is an “earn-and-learn” programme that offers full-time, paid employment with NIAR WERX while progressing through WSU Tech’s Aviation Maintenance Technology programme and simultaneously earning credits towards the Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree in Organisational Leadership and Learning at Wichita State.
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