Mammoth Freighters plans to complete test flights for its 777-200LRMF converted freighter by early October as it progresses towards Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the aircraft.
Brian McCarthy, vice president of marketing & sales for Mammoth, told Air Cargo News that the freighter conversion company is currently conducting company flights and formal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 777-200LRMF flights.
The Fort Worth, Texas-headquartered company announced it had completed the initial test flight of the 777-200LRMF prototype in May.
The company and FAA test flights form part of Mammoth's plans to gain STC approval for the conversion programme.
"In order to accomplish formal FAA test flights the airplane must be 100% completed with all installations and conformity inspections by a host of FAA designated engineering representatives (DER's)," said McCarthy.
"We are now in the final phase of conducting a series of Company flights and Formal FAA flights that are scheduled over the next 4-6 weeks. We plan on having all flights completed and all submittals of data, reports to the FAA by October 5.
"This will trigger a process called Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) where the STC applicant is 'all but done' and simply waiting for the FAA to finish up administrative review, document audits and inventory of all data."
Qatar Airways Cargo is the launch customer for the 777-200LRMF after earlier this year signing an agreement for five of the aircraft with Texas-based lessor, Jetran.
Meanwhile, Mammoth is expected to complete flight testing for its first Boeing 777-300ERMF freighter conversion by the end of the year, to then proceed to TIA.
McCarthy noted that the 777-300ERMF STC is an amendment of the 777-200LRMF STC, which should speed up the approvals process for the conversion programme. AviaAM Leasing is the launch customer for the 777-300ERMF.
"The only test that requires more focus is the smoke detection test for the 300 ER," elaborated McCarthy. "That's because the fuselage is 10 m longer with a few more smoke detectors that have to be tested in those zones.
"Otherwise, we see no issues with flight testing that aircraft. The flight test sequence should be much swifter for the 300 ER."
He added that Mammoth anticipated the 777-200LRMF to be in service by the time the 777-300ERMF flight testing is in progress.
Currently, Mammoth has seven 777-200/-300 aircraft undergoing conversion: five at Aspire MRO in Fort Worth, Texas, and two at STS Aviation Services in Manchester, UK.
There are currently three 777-300ER conversion programmes in place with IAI, KMC and Mammoth, in addition to the 777-200LR programme in development with Mammoth.
