Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) has announced that the company will provide Austin-based, Aero Capital Solutions, Inc. (ACS), with 13 additional B737-800SF freighter conversions. Upon completion of this new order, ACS will have a total fleet of 34 AEI B737-800SF freighter conversions, making the company AEI’s largest customer to date for the B737-800SF.
The first aircraft of this new order will commence modification in March 2023, with all modification and maintenance requirements to be performed by the authorized AEI Conversion Center, Commercial Jet, in Miami, Florida. The remaining 12 aircraft will be modified and distributed between Commercial Jet, KF Aerospace and HAECO Xiamen. The last aircraft of this order will commence modification in December 2023.
The AEI converted B737-800SF freighter offers a main deck payload of up to 52,700 lbs. (23,904 kg) and incorporates eleven full height 88” x 125” container positions, plus an additional position for an AEP/AEH. The conversion also incorporates new floor beams aft of the wing box, a large 86” x 137” Main Cargo Door with a single vent door system.
AEI’s forward-thinking design allows for containers to be loaded into the aircraft a full 16.5” aft of the forward door jamb, ensuring ground operators have sufficient maneuvering room which minimizes potential door and aircraft strikes. Additionally, the AEI B737-800SF includes a flexible Ancra Cargo Loading System, a rigid 9g barrier, five supernumerary seats as standard, a galley, and full lavatory.
When combined with proven reliability, the AEI converted B737-800SF will help lessees to keep their freighter fleet in the air, generating revenue.
