ANAC approves first project to convert passenger aircraft to F-Class cargo aircraft

The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) issued, at the end of January, the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the first project of passenger cabin conversion from transport category aircraft to F-Class cargo compartment developed in Brazil. The project consists in the installation of up to 16 containers with a cargo capacity of up to 400 kg each, a smoke screen to protect the pilots’ cabin and a system of heat detection cameras, to monitor and alert on the conditions of the material transported, in transport category aircraft.

The containers in the aircraft are made of a material that meets flammability requirements, covered with netting to retain the cargo, and attached to the rails originally intended for fastening passenger seats. The approval allows flexibility in the configuration of passenger aircraft for cargo transportation in a quick way (quick change), providing operators the use of the aircraft according to market demand and, consequently, the needs of the company.

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, airlines already have the possibility to carry cargo in the cabin on an exceptional and temporary basis, allowed by ANAC’s Resolution No. 600 from December 15, 2020, which presents the guidelines for the operation. However, the issuance of the Supplemental Type Certificate makes it possible to transport a greater volume of cargo, besides not having the operation limited to the conditions of the resolution and can be used regardless of the exceptional situation brought by the pandemic.

The first aircraft certified by the Agency for conversion from passenger transport to operate cargo is an Embraer E195. Operated by Azul Linhas Aéreas, the aircraft was manufactured in 2013. The prototype that obtained the STC performed concept and smoke barrier tests on the ground, in addition to the certification flight with ANAC inspectors.

F-Class

The certification of an aircraft in the categorization to operate Class F allows the transportation of cargo in the passenger cabin, in containers resistant to heat and fire, with an innovative system of fire detection through thermal cameras.