Bombardier Commercial Aircraft has started work with Air Inuit on a passenger-to-freighter conversion for the Q300 turboprop aircraft to feature a large cargo door, the manufacturer announced Tuesday. Long-time Q300 operator Air Inuit championed the modification and expects to serve as the launch customer for the conversion. Bombardier said an unidentified “specialized third-party entity” will develop a new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the conversion under license. Air Inuit plans to operate three of the converted turboprops.

“With its excellent airfield performance--especially on gravel runways--the Q300 aircraft is well adapted for remote operations like those required to support Canada’s resource industries and northern communities,” said Air Inuit vice president and COO Christian Busch, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Air Inuit. “The Q300 aircraft has served us well in our passenger, charter and cargo operations in Nunavik and other markets for many years, and we look forward to enhancing our cargo services with three Q300 Large Cargo Door freighters.”

The converted Q300 aircraft would carry a cargo capacity of 12,500 pounds with an “optimized cargo door” and accommodate palletized and free load cargo.

Owned by the Inuit of Nunavik tribe through Makivik Corporation, Quebec-based Air Inuit flies 25 arctic-adapted airplanes on vital passenger, charter, medical, cargo and emergency air transportation services across the northern Canadian region of Nunavik and beyond. Its fleet consists two Bombardier Q100 and 10 Q300 turboprops along with examples of the Boeing 737-200C, Hawker Siddeley 748, de Havilland Twin Otter and Beechcraft King Air.