Aeronautical Engineers (AEI) has announced that Democratic Republic of Congo-based Serve Air has ordered its first AEI B737-800SF freighter conversion.

The aircraft has already commenced modification and is expected to be redelivered to Serve Air in early November 2023.

All conversion related touch labour and maintenance is being performed by Commercial Jet in Dothan, Alabama which is an authorised AEI conversion centre.

Robert T. Convey, AEI senior vice president sales and marketing, said: “While the narrowbody conversion market demand from leasing companies has slowed over the last few months, new orders for our B737-800SF freighter coming directly from operators continues to remain strong.

“Serve Air recently purchased an AEI B737-800SF from China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited and is currently operating the freighter.”

Serve Air is the first operator of the B737-800SF in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and expects to increase its fleet of AEI B737-800SF freighters to a total of six aircraft in the coming
years.

The AEI converted B737-800SF freighter offers a main deck payload of up to 52,700 lbs. (23,904kg) 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 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 full lavatory.