ATP Freight Doors
There is an option to Westair, see the following press release issued in June 2003
BAE SYSTEMS AND ROMAERO AGREE ATP LARGE FREIGHT DOOR PROGRAMME
17 June 2003
BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft and Romaero commercial aerostructures manufacturer, have agreed a programme under which romaero will build 10 Large Freight Door (LFD) installation kits for the ATP regional turboprop freighter, in anticipation of an installation programme being planned by Regional Aircraft over the next two years.
Romaero has also been contracted by Regional Aircraft to carry out repairs on a number of ATPs that were damaged by freak hailstorms when in storage at Zaragossa, Spain.
It is likely that once these repairs have completed, some of these will have E-Class freight interiors fitted along with the Large Freight Doors at Romaero's Baneasa, near Bucharest. The first aircraft will be ferried to Baneasa at the end of June and completed with freight interior and Large Freight Door as early as the first quarter of 2004.
The E-Class interiors will be those designed by British European Aviation Services in a joint programme with Regional Aircraft.
It is anticipated that some of the Large Freight Door modules that have been manufactured by Romaero will be offered to other ATP customers who may elect to have their door fitted at other centers of their choice.
Romaero has been a partner to BAE SYSTEMS for many years, notably on the ROMBAC BAC One-Eleven licence production programme in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Among the BAC One-Elevens produced were a number with freight doors fitted. Romaero also continues to be the main production site the Britten-Norman Islander utility transport aircraft, hundreds of which have built over several decades. It also manufactures rear fuselage for the Gulfstream G200 business jet.
In assessing Romaero's suitability for the repair task, manufacture of the LFDs, and likely installation of the freight interiors and doors, BAE SYSTEMS Regional Aircraft carried out an extensive technical audit of Romaero's facilities and processes.
John Williamson, Vice President Technical Operations and Business Support of Regional Aircraft commented: "Romaero passed our stringent audit with flying colours. We are impressed with their capabilities and quality procedures. The manufacture of the Large Freight Doors and the plan for installation will be very cost-effective meaning that freight airlines will receive a product that is priced to the needs of the market. We hope that this current partnership agreement can be extended and widened over time."
The time scale would seem to fit into Emerald's plan.