The US-based Aeronautical Engineers Inc (AEI), a global leader in aircraft passenger-to-freighter conversion, will foray in to India with India’s Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) approving its B737-800SF freighter conversion. The Chennai-based Afcom Holding Ltd, a cargo airline, will be AEI’s first customer by taking B737-800SF on lease and will operate the aircraft based out of India.
The conversion involves removing seats, modifying doors, reinforcing the floor from the passenger aircraft, installing a main deck cargo door and adding cargo loading systems and smoke detection.
AEI currently has FAA (US), CAAC (China), EASA (Europe), TCCA (Canada), UK CAA, CAACI (Cayman Islands), Brazilian, Argentinian ANAC, and now Indian DGCA approval for its B737-800SF, Robert T Convey, AEI Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, told businessine. The Afcom transaction was the impetus for AEI to gain approval with the Indian Director General of Civil Aviation, he said.
“With India’s e-commerce and express markets continuing to grow, the B737-800SF will provide operators with the right blend of payload, volume, and economics to compete in an ever-changing world,” said Convey.
AEI currently has FAA (US), CAAC (China), EASA (Europe), TCCA (Canada), UK CAA, CAACI (Cayman Islands), Brazilian, Argentinian ANAC, and now Indian DGCA approval for its B737-800SF, Robert T Convey, AEI Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, said. The Afcom transaction was the impetus for AEI to gain approval with the Indian Director General of Civil Aviation, he said.
“With India’s e-commerce and express markets continuing to grow, the B737-800SF will provide operators with the right blend of payload, volume, and economics to compete in an ever-changing world,” said Convey.
Deepak Parasuraman, Chairman & Managing Director, Afcom Holdings, confirmed that the company will be AEI’s first customer in India and will take delivery of the PTF within days. This will be the third PTF with the earlier two being Boeing Converted Freighter (B737-800), he said. “We use Chennai as our hub and operate to destinations like Vietnam, Thailand, Maldives and Sri Lanka. We will soon add Dubai,” he said.
Several more
Convey expects several more to be ordered now that they are certified in India. Globally, AEI has converted 85 B737-800SF’s for operators around the world.
The AEI converted B737-800SF freighter offers a main deck payload of up to 23 tonnes 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. The conversion from passenger to freighter takes between 100 and 120 days.
“There are no new narrowbody freighters available from either Boeing or Airbus. If the OEM’s did build a new freighter, it would cost around $50,000,000 compared with around $20,000,000 for a converted 20-year-old freighter,” Convey said.
