Story ID: 
NIAR Werx To Add Airbus A321 Conversions
By: Jerry Siebenmark
Caption: The A321 cargo conversion project is an extension of a partnership between National Institute for Aviation Research and Erickson Precision Ventures.
Word Count: 217
Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) Werx and Erickson Precision Ventures announced yesterday a collaborative passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversion of an Airbus A321 commercial jet.

This is an extension of an agreement announced in May between the two organizations to collaborate on the P2F conversion of Boeing 777-300ERCF widebody jets.

“The NIAR team, resources, and facilities offer 321 Precision Conversions a unique opportunity to add an expansive mod center to our portfolio of installation facilities,” said Erickson Precision Ventures president Gary Warner. “The scale of the operations here in Wichita are truly impressive, and seeing the level of support from Wichita State University gives us all the confidence in the future of the program.”

Beaverton, Oregon-based Erickson Precision Ventures is a subsidiary of The Erickson Group, which was founded in the 1970s to convert surplus military Sikorsky S-64 heavy-lift helicopters for commercial use.

“We’re thrilled to add another aircraft to the NIAR conversion portfolio,” said NIAR Werx executive director David Jones. “The agreement with Erickson Precision Ventures allows us to continue to train and prepare Wichita State [University] and WSU Tech students for careers in aviation maintenance and engineering while expanding the expertise and capability of the Wichita and Kansas workforce.”