The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued Aeronautical Engineers Inc (AEI) with a Validation Supplemental Type Certificate (VSTC) for the passenger-to-freighter conversion of B737-800 aircraft.
The CAAC VSTC validates the original US Federal Aviation Administration Supplemental Type Certificate, which was awarded to AEI at the beginning of 2019.
The AEI converted B737-800SF freighter offers a maindeck payload of up to 23.9 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, and a flexible Ancra Cargo Loading System. Additionally, the AEI B737-800SF includes a rigid 9g barrier, up to five supernumerary seats, a galley and full lavatory.
AEI is forecasting that roughly 750 B737-800’s will be converted over the next 40 plus years with AEI capturing over 400 of those conversions. The company has already secured 111 firm orders and commitments for the B737-800SF.
