Mammoth Freighters starts 777 conversion in China

The American company Mammoth Freighters has begun converting a Boeing 777-200LR into a cargo aircraft in China. This is the first such conversion under its 777-200LRMF program, with the aircraft registered as N60VL and previously operated by Air India.

Partnership and location details

The aircraft belongs to Jetran and is now at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co., Ltd. (STAECO) facility in Qingdao, China. This move follows a partnership announced on July 15 and is part of an order for over twenty 777-200LRMF units from an American lessor, with thirteen destined for DHL’s global network.

Future expansion plans

A second conversion line is set to open in Qingdao at the start of 2027. HAECO Xiamen has pledged to support STAECO during the project’s launch by offering technical expertise and personnel specializing in 777 aircraft.

Multiple production sites

The Qingdao facility is the third site capable of converting 777s for Mammoth Freighters, joining Aspire MRO in Fort Worth, United States, and STS Aviation Services in Manchester, United Kingdom. The company aims to establish a total of nine production lines for these conversions.

Certification and competition

Mammoth Freighters received the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for its 777-200LRMF program from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in April. Its other conversion program, P2F, involving the 777-300ERMF, is a competitor to the 777-300ERSF "Big Twin" program by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and AerCap, and is expected to be certified by year’s end.