KMC completes door surround removal on 777-300ERCF conversion
The company is set to start post-modification flight testing and certification in the third quarter of 2026.
Kansas Modification Center has reached a significant milestone in its 777 passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion programme, the 777-300ERCF, completing the removal of the existing door surround structure to make way for a new cargo door and its attachment framework.
The company has now begun reinstallation of the forward cargo door skins and frames to accommodate the cargo door, with efforts aligned toward starting post-modification flight testing and certification in the third quarter of 2026, the company said in a LinkedIn post.
Earlier this year, a KMC spokesperson told The STAT Trade Times that ground and flight testing are planned for early 2026, with the supplemental type certificate (STC) expected in October 2026, pending regulatory coordination. The company said the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) application is slated for the first half of 2026, with approval anticipated by year-end.
KMC has secured substantial orders for its 777-300ERCF programme, including 10 aircraft placed through Backbone Freighters Leasing, a unit of the Dr Peters Group.
KMC’s 777-300ERCF is designed with a forward main cargo door. The 777-300ERCF has a maximum gross payload capacity of 205,000 lb (92,986 kg) and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 775,000 lb (351,534 kg).
