Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) has announced the company has been awarded a contract to provide leading mid-life lessor Aero Capital Solutions (ACS) with ten additional B737-800SF Freighter Conversions. This news follows an AEI announcement in October 2020 providing ACS with four B737-800SFs. Once this order is fulfilled, ACS will have converted a total of fourteen B737-800 aircraft through the AEI program.
The first additional 737-800 aircraft will commence modification in June 2021 and will be performed by HAECO Xiamen. The second aircraft will commence modification at STAECO in
July 2021. The eight remaining aircraft modifications will alternate between the two production lines, with the final aircraft commencing modification in September 2022.
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 manoeuvring 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.
