Miami, Florida – March 7th, 2022 – Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) is pleased to announce the UK Civil Aviation Authority has approved AEI’s STC (ST02690LA) for the 12-pallet position B737-800SF freighter conversion. AEI currently has FAA, CAAC, EASA, TCCA, Cayman, Guernsey, and now UK-CAA approvals for its B737-800SF freighter conversion.

The first AEI B737-800SF converted freighter for which this approval will apply just arrived in the UK and will begin operations shortly with an undisclosed customer.

This is the first CAA approval that AEI has gained from the UK Authorities. In the past when the United Kingdom was part of the European Union, EASA governed STC approvals. However, since Brexit, STC approvals in the United Kingdom are now handled by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

AEI is currently the only conversion company to have ETOPS 180 approval on the 737-800 freighter conversion. Additionally, AEI can convert all 737-800 line number aircraft including those with Split Scimitar winglets.

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.