Israel Aerospace Industries completes maiden flight of converted Airbus A330-300 freighter

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced the successful maiden flight of its converted Airbus A330-300 passenger-to-freighter aircraft, known as the A330-300BDSF. The flight is a key milestone in the certification campaign required for the aircraft to enter commercial service. The test followed the completion of primary structural modifications and extensive ground testing by IAI’s Aviation Group. Guy Bar Lev, IAI President and CEO, stated that the milestone reflects the company's investment in advanced aviation technologies and strengthens its position in the global air cargo market. The A330-300BDSF is designed for regional and medium-haul operations, capable of carrying up to 61 tons of cargo. It features an electrical loading system and a forward-positioned main deck door to improve turnaround times. Yaacov Berkovitz, EVP and GM of IAI’s Aviation Group, noted that the company is leveraging decades of engineering expertise to meet the evolving needs of the global cargo market. IAI remains one of the few companies worldwide with the capability to perform passenger-to-freighter conversions across both Boeing and Airbus platforms.