The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has officially approved Aeronautical Engineers Inc’s (AEI) Special Type Certificate for its 12-pallet position Boeing 737-800SF converter freighter.
AEI called the moved an “important milestone” for the company, and stated that the B737-800SF is an “ideal freighter for European market route structures”.
According to the company, multiple European customers have already expressed interest in AEI’s B737-800SF conversion.
AEI has now secured FAA, CAAC, and now EASA approvals for its B737-800SF.
The AEI converted B737-800SF freighter offers a main deck payload of up to 23,904 kilograms and incorporates 11 full-height 88-inch x 125-inch 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-inch x 137-inch 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 inches aft of the forward door jamb, ensuring ground operators have sufficient maneuvering room which minimises 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 a 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 more than 30 in 2022.
Article courtesy of Airlinerwatch.
