From offices and labs in a location with a long history for excellence in aircraft
innovation and design, the highly skilled staff at NIAR WERX relies on hundreds of
years of combined experience in the design, production and testing of aircraft and
components to develop and execute unique projects no other team could tackle. Paired
with the fresh and open minds of engineering and technical students at Wichita State
University and WSU Tech, the WERX team implements innovative and efficient methods
for the rapid development of engineering and testing plans for new aircraft, modifications
and overhaul, and electrical components.
Wichita State University and Kansas Modification Center (KMC) have reached another
significant milestone to advance the passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion of
the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR)
WERX.
KMC, a Wichita-based startup and NIAR WERX submitted a Certification Plan for the
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) to the FAA – moving the program one step closer
to delivery of the modified aircraft to its owner.
As part of the conversion program announced in September 2020, KMC and NIAR WERX have
been focused on pulling together the needed capital investment, market data, engineer
development and workforce skills to be able to take delivery of their first aircraft.
“We are beyond proud of the work that has been accomplished,” said Dave Jones, executive
director of NIAR WERX. “The filing of this Certification Plan is the product of a
joint effort of among 80+ engineers, which has spanned thousands of hours of work
and cost millions of dollars.”
“Aircraft conversion is not a new idea nor a new venture for Wichita’s aerospace industry,”
said Jim Gibbs, President and CEO of KMC. “The strong, experienced local workforce
and worldwide growing demand for freighter delivery services, attributed in part to
the COVID pandemic, make this a logical venture for KMC and NIAR WERX.”
To reach this latest milestone, NIAR WERX leveraged its FAA experience to validate
the Certification Plan by nineteen FAA Delegated Engineering Representatives (DERs).
The FAA has already issued the project number and assigned a FAA project team, signaling
their commitment to the project.
“I cannot understate the outstanding support and engagement we have received from
the FAA and their delegates over the last 6 months,” said Gibbs.
With preliminary design 60% complete, NIAR WERX and KMC expect the STC issuance and
initial re-delivery of the 777-300ERCF converted freighter in early 2024. Based on
strong interest in the program, expansion is anticipated.
