A340-600 Next Generation Freighter (NGF)

The NGF conversion programme is a joint venture between LCF Conversions and ACE Corporation of the USA. The concept development of the A340 NGF is currently underway, this programme will provide main deck freight lift capability on the A340-600 aircraft. Note this modification could be developed for installation in the -500 and -300 A340 aircraft.

The A340-600 NGF is one of the most efficient & economic ways to transport the low-density freight of the exponentially growing global ecommerce traffic

Up to 90 tonnes+ structural payload and ~24,000 ft³ payload volume (680 m³) - 25% more than an A330-300 Freighter.

The Airbus A340-600 accommodates 96” SBS ULD’s and offers:

777F volume and greater range at a fraction of the acquisition cost.
15% more pallet positions than a 777-200F and 30% more than an A330-300 PTF.
More range than any other freighter - potentially up to 6,100 nm.
Far better hot-and-high performance than any twin, no ETOPS constraints.

Market Demand:

The A340-600 offers a low investment/low risk lift platform meeting demand for the large widebody PTF segment, replacing the MD-11 and B747-400 freighter fleets, ~300 freighters or 30% of the entire widebody freighter fleet which will need replacement in the next 10+ years. There are no alternative conversion programmes in sight now or in the foreseeable future in the 90T+ payload category.

The A340-600 will also provide surge capacity in the medium widebody market while 3rd generation feedstock (A330) remains difficult to acquire at the right price for conversion. Along with the common Airbus cross-crew cockpit benefits the A340-600 NGF also offers a low risk opportunity for the challenging direct long-range integrator market routes thanks to its unique range capability.

The NGF Conversion Programme:

The NGF Conversion for the A340 fleet is a unique main deck freighter conversion solution that addresses the design and certification challenges associated with the A340 fleet. It is an innovative solution that will be more efficient than conventional freighter conversion solutions; it will be functional, cost effective and most importantly, it offers significant economies of scale with a one-size-fits-all solution covering all the Airbus A340 variants.

The conversion can be installed on any weight variant and no software upgrades are required. The conversion includes:

Removal of all un-necessary items from Pax operations. 'Deep Strip' of structures, systems and materials not required in the NGF configuration.
Installation of a "Plug Safe" Main Deck Cargo Door : The NGF MDCD offers optimised dimensions (100 H x 140" W) to save on MDCD structure weight, reduced maintenance and improved safety.
Modification of the Main Deck floor structure.
Installation of a Main Deck Cargo Loading System (CLS).
Installation of a full-length main cabin liner on the fuselage walls.
Installation of new systems (e.g. smoke detection), structure (e.g. 9G barrier) accommodation (e.g. new courier area) appropriate for any all-cargo aircraft operations.

The NGF is designed to improve safety as a result of a simpler door concept with associated weight saving and reduced maintenance costs.

Main Deck Freight Accommodation:

Max structural payload up to 90T. With 24,000 ft³ (680 m³) payload volume, 8.5% more than 777F, the A340-600 NGF will be one of the most efficient and economic ways to transport the low-density freight of the exponentially growing global ecommerce traffic.

NGF A340-600: Main Deck Cargo Layout: 32 96"x125" ULDs

The total payload on the Main Deck is 173,415 lbs (78.7T) and the certified floor running loads of the Lower Hold can accommodate loads of up to 116 lbs/in (facilitating individual pallet loads of over 5 tonnes).

The Main Deck NGF Cargo Door - "Plug Safe" Cargo Door:

Common engineering solution for the A330/A340 fleet (Patent pending door design).
Next generation cargo door design to maximize utility of the existing airplane architecture.