Regional Freighter Aircraft Requirements to 1995

The Lockheed-Georgia Company forecasts a worldwide requirement for over 700 new Regional Freighter Aircraft (RFA) to replace the narrow-bodied turbojet and turboprop all-cargo freighters currently operating in regional freighter service and to fill the additional freighter aircraft requirements projected to 1995.

The study was conducted primarily through a world survey of narrow-bodied turbojet and turboprop freighters in current all-cargo operations, personal in-depth interviews with key executives of over 70 air cargo organizations, a mail questionnaire to approximately 200 airlines, and an analysis of future RFA requirements based on individual carrier cargo growth rates obtained from the air carriers and related organizations.

Subjects, addressed in the market surveys ranged from questions on present regional freighter operations (characterized as less than 1500 statue miles) to future cargo growth rates and aircraft types. Regional freighter services are currently being operated in all seven market areas; and the major operators interviewed indicated a need exists for a dedicated all-cargo aircraft with the following general characteristics:

• Compatibility with wide-bodied freighter aircraft and future standard ULD's such as the M-2 intermodal Air Container
• Operating costs lower than existing freighter aircraft on RFA segments
• Maximum revenue payload capability of 50,000 pounds
• Maximum payload-range capability of approximately 500 statute miles
• Average on-board density of nine pounds per cubic foot
• Compliance with present and proposed government regulations