The PACAVI Group and GAMECO (Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering, Co., Ltd.) are on track to market with their joint Airbus A320/A321 passenger-to-freighter conversion in 2017, according to a statement released by the companies.

PACAVI Group CEO Dr. Stephan Hollmann commented on the program’s progress: “Our recent completion of the preliminary design review marks an important milestone as we are moving forward on schedule with our STC development operation,” he said.

“We will commence the first industrial conversion of an A320 Freighter LITE at our Guangzhou facility in China, to be converted simultaneously with the prototype in Hahn, Germany,” explained GAMECO’s General Manager Norbert Marx.

Conversion of the prototype A320 Freighter LITE, started in January 2015, is progressing on schedule at the HAITEC facility in Frankfurt/Hahn, Germany.

During their joint presentation at the 12th China Air Cargo Summit in Shanghai, the chief executives of both companies laid out their vision to be the dominant provider of Airbus narrow body freighter solutions in China and beyond.

“We are going to advance the industry’s traditional approach with a groundbreaking one stop shop-concept, offering tailored turnkey packages of airframe sourcing, purchase, customized conversion, and leasing or sale to airline customers of all tiers, worldwide,” said Hollmann.

The PACAVI Group, based in San Diego, California, and Bremen, Germany, specializes in sales and leasing of aircraft, and aircraft conversion engineering.

GAMECO, a joint venture of China Southern Airlines, Hutchison A/C Maintenance Investment, and South China International A/C Engineering, employs nearly 5,000 people. China Southern operates over 600 aircraft including the largest Airbus fleet in China. GAMECO is approved by many aviation authorities in the Asia-Pacific region to provide multi-levels of maintenance checks and modification and engineering services for both Boeing and Airbus aircraft.