Aircraft trading, leasing and MRO specialist Vallair has delivered its first converted Boeing 737-400F to Longhao Airlines.

According to Vallair, the aircraft was previously operated by Japan Transocean Air and was converted by Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Limited, a conversion partner of PEMCO World Air Services.

“Vallair takes a long-term view with regards to its Chinese portfolio, we are carefully building a fleet of Boeing and Airbus commercial aircraft that will form the bedrock of our cargo conversion programme,” said Peter Koster, head of cargo conversions at Vallair. “As these mature aircraft come to the end of their operational lease agreements we are extending the life of these assets in the most economically beneficial way through our cost-effective conversion programme.”

Longhao Airlines is a Chinese cargo carrier established by Guangdong Longhao Aviation Group and is based at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, operating domestic and international routes to destinations including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The airline was approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in 2016 and launched operations in March 2017 with a flight between Guangzhou and Nantong. Longhao Airlines has since launched nine routes and added three 737-300 freighters to its fleet.

The aircraft is one of a number of 737 aircraft that Vallair has purchased for cargo conversion and the first Vallair 737-400 to be converted at the GAMECO facility.

“Since entering our cooperation with PEMCO, Vallair is our first customer for cargo conversion under the PEMCO STC in Guangzhou,” said Norbert Marx, CEO of GAMECO. “Our technical team has worked closely with Vallair’s cargo conversion specialists to ensure that Longhao has the optimum aircraft for their needs. Our chosen provider partnership with Vallair in the Asia region establishes a strong commitment to timely completions of the highest standard and the whole team of engineers and technicians at GAMECO is extremely proud to deliver this great aircraft.”

PEMCO designed the supplemental type certificate for the 737-400 conversion and appointed GAMECO as its third conversion partner in China in July 2017.

“The assignment of freighter conversions to our new partner GAMECO has proven to be a valid choice,” said Mike Andrews, director of conversion programmes at PEMCO. “Quality and efficiency are key drivers for conversion programmes and GAMECO delivered excellence for Vallair via their highly skilled workforce.”