The term "winglet" caused a stir in the aviation aftermarket industry a decade ago with promises of more efficient aircraft via wing attachments that could be retrofitted. Major airlines undergoing extensive retrofit projects include United, which ordered 14 767-300ER units fron APB in June. Operators are still buying these devices, but manufacturers such as Aviation Partners Boeing and Quiet Wing have realized that once most fleets are outfitted with winglets, they will need a strategy for capturing new market opportunities. APB likely will be busy through 2012 with passenger aircraft orders, but it is also looking to capture a market segment that is virtually untouched by winglets: passenger-to-freighter conversions. Now, operators cannot put APB winglets on converted aircraft because the STCs for freighter and passenger winglets are not interchangeable. But APB is prepared to resolve that issue. Spokesman Patrick LaMoria says the company expects to receive STCs as early as next year to retrofit its blended winglets on Boeing 767 and 757-200 converted freighters. This could be a great market to watch for MROs that install winglets, such as Commercial Jet and Ameco Beijing, whicr would be able to use their conversion and winglet expertise on the same aircraft.
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