ARSA forces government to finalise the overdue repair station rule
22nd August 2012
Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) has announced that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved AEI’s STC (ST02690LA) for the 12-pallet position B737-800SF freighter conversion. This is an important milestone for the company as AEI’s B737-800SF is an ideal freighter for European market route structures. AEI states that multiple European customers have already expressed interest in its B737-800SF conversion. AEI currently has FAA, CAAC, and now EASA approvals for its B737-800SF.
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 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.
During the last six months, AEI has secured an additional 40 orders for the B737-800SF. Currently, AEI has a total of 14 simultaneous freighter conversion production lines, nine of which are dedicated to the B737-800SF and is on track to deliver 24 freighters in 2021 and 30+ in 2022.