Germany's USC receives first aircraft, an A340-300

Germany's USC debuts commercial flight operations

Germany's USC eyes ten A340s, imminent debut

Germany's USC certifies, ready for lease ops with A340

USC (Germany) (Frankfurt International) has obtained its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the German civil aviation authority (Luftfahrt Bundesamt - LBA) and is set to now proffer its first A340-300 to the wet-, damp-, and dry-lease markets.

D-AUSC (msn 646), an 18.7-year-old jet formerly in service with South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo), was registered in Germany in late April 2023. Configured for up to 253 passengers, including 38 in business class and 215 in economy class, it remains parked at Frankfurt Hahn, awaiting its first commercial deployment.

While the start-up plans to focus on the passenger market initially, it will later expand into the cargo sector. It has already acquired an ex-SAA A340-600, D-AUSZ (msn 557), which will be converted by Avensis Aviation, but the timeline remains unclear as the conversion variant has yet to be certified. USC estimates the process will take between eight and 11 months. USC's A340-600 will be the first unit of the type converted by the British firm, which has so...

Germany's USC inks A340 P2F conversions with Avensis

German startup USC (Germany) (Frankfurt International) [Universal Sky Carrier] will be the launch customer of Avensis Aviation's P2F cargo conversion programme for A340-300 and A340-600s, according to an announcement by the UK-based engineering and design business.

"Thrilled that USC has become the launch client for our top-of-the-range conversion solution NAVIS, for their Airbus A340-300s and A340-600s aircraft fleet," Avensis Aviation, which specialises in passenger to freighter (P2F) conversions, announced on social media.

The startup plans to enter ACMI service this summer with two passenger A340s from its base at Frankfurt Hahn, but intends to convert them into freighters later. As reported, it received its first two aircraft from South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo): an A340-300, D-AUSC (msn 646), and A340-600 D-AUSZ (msn 557). Both are parked at Frankfurt Hahn, ADS-B data shows.

According to Avensis Aviation, the Navis P2F conversion is the company's flagship product and features a "first-of-its-kind" entirely electrically operated "plug-type" main deck cargo door. This reduces maintenance complexity whilst increasing operational safety by...