TAIWAN FIRMS FORM FREIGHTER CONVERSION GROUP

   Four Taiwan-based aviation companies have come together in hopes of working with Boeing Co. to convert passenger planes to freighters.
   The new group, including China Airlines, EVA Airways, Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. and Air Asia Co., is negotiating a relationships with Boeing’s Airplane Service unit, whereby the U.S. plane-maker will provide government-approved conversion kits and engineering support. The Taiwanese companies will carry out the actual conversion work.
   A spokesman for the group cited rising demand for cargo capacity in Asia, evidenced by China Airlines’ unprecedented $2.5 billion order of 13 B747-400 freighter aircraft in August.
   Boeing anticipates demand for some 1,800 freighter conversions over the next 15 to 20 years.