A380 finally lands freighter role with LHT modification

[flee 5]

German maintenance specialist Lufthansa Technik is working on a conversion for an Airbus A380 as part of its effort to offer temporary passenger-to-cargo modification services.

Lufthansa Technik has not identified the customer but states that it has been awarded the technical and engineering task to support the “operational change” for the double-deck type.

While the modification is intended to comply with temporary passenger-to-freight regulatory exemptions drawn up to meet demand during the coronavirus crisis, the company indicates that it will offer the conversion as a permanent solution.

“The current exemption and our solution for it can be transferred to our supplemental type certificate at a later point in time without major adjustments,” says aircraft modification base maintenance senior director Henning Jochmann.

“Anyone who opts for Lufthansa Technik’s exceptional solution now can easily switch to the permanent [supplementary type certification] solution later.”

Lufthansa Technik is working on similar certification for a number of common aircraft types to enable modification into auxiliary freighters.

More: https://www.flightglobal.com/air-transport/a380-finally-lands-freighter-role-with-lht-modification/138247.article

[Mushrif A 3]

MH used its A380 (-MNF) as cargo flights to/from LHR a few days ago.

But why the A380 instead of the 359, given the very similar underfloor cargo capacity, but with the 359 costing less to operate the route? Did MH also use the 380 cabin extensively for bulk but light cargo?

[flee 5]

Yes, the cargo needed volume but it wasn't heavy.