A binding agreement is expected to follow soon.

Just a couple of days after launching cargo conversion options for its range of Dash 8-400 aircraft, De Havilland Canada has already found its first customer. On the third day of the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow, the Ethiopian Airlines Group signed a proposal with the Toronto-based manufacturer for four Dash 8 freighter conversion kits.

A spokesperson for the Canadian manufacturer told Simple Flying that the conversion kits are still under development. If all goes well, the certification process is expected to take around 24 months and the first converted Dash 8s won't enter commercial service before the second half of 2024.

Simple Flying is at the Farnborough Airshow this week. For all the latest news from the show click here!

Philippe Poutissou, Vice President, Customer Experience, De Havilland Canada, said,

“Ethiopian’s proposal with De Havilland Canada is a superb testament to the versatility of the Dash 8-400 aircraft to satisfy a wide variety of operational requirements and we thank Ethiopian for this confidence in the aircraft’s capability. The Dash 8-400 aircraft’s industry-leading operating costs and environmental footprint, as well as its outstanding performance and large cabin volume have facilitated our introduction of a series of freighter options -- including Quick Change, Package Freighter and LCD Freighters -- to better serve the expanding cargo market.”

Ethiopian’s proposed deal includes firm orders for two of De Havilland’s Dash 8-400 Freighter – Large Cargo Door (F-LCD) conversion kits. The African airline also has additional options for two more kits.

The F-LCD is one of four freighter conversion kits launched by DHC on day one of the Farnborough Airshow. As the name suggests, the F-LCD kit comes with the addition of a large cargo door to the forward fuselage for easier loading and unloading. This is the only kit equipped to accommodate containerized cargo using the onboard cargo loading system.

The Large Cargo Door (LCD) measures 109” X 69” (2.8m X 1.8m), allowing the Dash 8-400 to handle standard container sizes like LD1, LD2, LD3, and LD4. For context, an F-LCD converted Dash 8 can carry up to eight LD3 containers. The maximum permissible payload stands at 21,400 lbs. (9.7 tonnes), while the aircraft provides 2,777 cubic feet (78.6 m3) of cargo volume. Depending on the load, Dash 8 airframes converted using the F-LCD have a range of up to 1,640 NM.

Ethiopian Airlines currently operates around 30 Dash 8s with an average age of six years. These aircraft are configured to carry anywhere between 71-78 passengers and are mainly used by the airline for short domestic hops.

Chances are, Ethiopian’s move to convert a handful of its turboprop aircraft to freighters is probably a result of increasing cargo demand. These converted planes can then be used to carry cargo from smaller airports in the country to the carrier’s major hubs like Addis Ababa (ADD). The F-LCD kit’s ability to accommodate standard containers means the pallets can be directly transferred to Ethiopian’s larger cargo planes like the Boeing 777-200LRF for international operations.

Mesfin Tasew, Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airlines Group, said,

“Cargo has played a pivotal role in Ethiopian Airlines’ operations over the past couple of years, and will remain a key growth pillar of our business over the coming years. The pandemic and subsequent recovery efforts have given rise to significant opportunities in the cargo space and we see great value in converting our older Dash 8-400 fleet to freighters to capitalize on these growing opportunities.”

Journalist - An engineer in the making, Devansh has always had a knack for all things aviation. As an avid observer of the Indian aviation scene, he joins the Simple Flying team with nearly two years of experience as a writer.