Qatar Airways Cargo will be the launch customer for Mammoth Freighters’ Boeing 777-200 conversion programme after signing up for five of the model.
The announcement comes as Mammoth successfully completed a “milestone” initial test flight of its 777-200LRMF prototype freighter.
The airline finalised an agreement for five of the aircraft with Jetran, a Horseshoe Bay, Texas-based leader in aircraft leasing, sales, and aviation services.
Mark Drusch, chief officer cargo, Qatar Airways, said: “As the launch customer of the Mammoth 777-200LRMF converted freighter, Qatar Airways Cargo proudly continues to lead global trade as the world’s largest airfreight carrier.
”This additional freighter capacity will be instrumental in advancing our fleet growth and expanding the premium cargo services we provide to customers worldwide. The growth of our fleet with the Mammoth 777s reflects our commitment to operating the largest freighter network and fleet in the industry.”
Mammoth said the prototype aircraft, registered as N705DN, “took to the skies following an extensive and rigorous conversion process at Mammoth’s modification partner facility, Aspire MRO, in Fort Worth, Texas”.
“This milestone is the culmination of years of dedicated engineering, collaboration, and innovation. Our mission is to deliver one of the world’s most productive and economical long-range freighters, and today’s achievement is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our entire team and partners,” said Bill Tarpley, chief executive of Mammoth.
“We are also thrilled to announce Qatar Airways Cargo as the launch customer for our 777-200LRMF freighter. Their commitment reflects the long-term value and capabilities this aircraft offers.”
The Mammoth 777-200LRMF features the Collins Aerospace cargo loading system, specifically optimised for the 777 passenger-to-freighter market.
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.
The company holds firm orders for 35 freighter conversions. DHL had previously announced that it would take nine Mammoth 777-200 conversion from Jetran.
Brian McCarthy, vice president of marketing and sales at Mammoth told Air Cargo News that the first two 777-200LRFs will be for Qatar. Once they are delivered, DHL will start to receive its aircraft.
While work continues on converting the aircraft, the company will also be attempting to gain STC approval for the conversion programme from US authorities.
McCarthy said that smoke tests - where the smoke alarm systems are put through their paces - would be soon carried out and then the process would be handed over to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for STC approval.
Mammoth hopes that the first aircraft could be approved and ready for commercial operations towards the end of this year.
McCarthy added that its -300 conversion would be tagged onto the -200 STC which should speed up the process for that programme.
Others are also working on gaining approval for their 777 conversion programmes, something that is taking longer than hoped.
Mammoth had been hoping to gain approval for its conversion programme in 2024.
Qatar Airways currently operates 28 production 777Fs and has a firm order for 34 of Boeing’s new 777-8F jet, with options for 16 more.
Qatar first ordered the 777-8F back in 2022 and the delivery date of the first aircraft was last year pushed back to 2028 at the earliest.
That means the airline will have been waiting at least six years between its first order and delivery. In the meantime, the airline will be keen to continue with its plans to establish Doha as a major logistics hub for the Middle East and for transit cargo to the rest of the world.
Cargojet had originally been the launch customer for Mammoth’s 777-200 conversion programme, but the airline ditched its plans due to a softening airfreight market.
