IAI adds 737 conversion line in Mexico

• Jeff Lee
• September 24, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has begun freighter conversions of 737NGs at the Mexicana MRO Services in Mexico City (MEX), Cargo Facts has learned. Mexicana MRO Services, which also provides touch labor for IAI’s 767-300 conversions, told Cargo Facts the first 737-800 (29668, ex-Jet Airways) had been inducted for conversion in late July, and is expected […]

GAMECO lands latest in string of 737 conversion line additions

• Charles Kauffman and Jeff Lee
• September 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Boeing plans to establish add another conversion line at Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Company Ltd. (GAMECO), the planemaker announced on its official Weibo account. Beginning in 2021, the facility will have the capability to simultaneously convert up to two 737-800s according to Boeing’s STC. The MRO started converting 737-800BCFs this May, when BBAM inducted the first […]

KF set to carry out AEI conversions at second location

• Jeff Lee
• September 2, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Canada-based KF Aerospace is establishing a 737-400SF conversion line at a second location, in Hamilton (YHM). The company’s YHM facility will soon provide touch labor for its first 737-400SF conversion according to an Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) STC. As part of a newly placed conversion order with AEI, the KF-owned aircraft (26280, ex-Juliet Romeo Aviation), […]

A trio of 737-800 conversions for Aero Capital Solutions

• Jeff Lee
• August 28, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Exclusive, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

U.S.-based Aero Capital Solutions (ACS) is bullish on narrowbody freighters and has committed to at least three 737-800SF conversions with Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI). ACS confirmed to Cargo Facts that it had ferried all three aircraft (28231, ex-Smartwings; 28655, ex-Eastar Jet; and 29925, ex-Go2Sky) to the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company Ltd. (STAECO) facility in […]

737-800 conversion market diversification accelerates in 2020

• Jeff Lee
• August 14, 2020
• Aircraft, Capacity & Demand, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, Narrowbody Fleet Analysis, News, Strategy

In a year that has seen rising interest in 737NG conversions, at least four companies new to the model have placed orders for up to eleven 737-800Fs so far in 2020, with more yet to be disclosed or announced. The following chart shows orders for 737 family and A321 conversions since January 2019.   Many 2020 […]

AEI boosts 737-800 conversion capacity on demand growth

• Jeff Lee
• August 11, 2020
• Aircraft, Business, Carriers, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Logistics, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) has designated Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Company (HAECO Xiamen) as a conversion center for its 737-800SF program, taking the number of conversion facilities it has to five. According to AEI, HAECO Xiamen will initially have one conversion line and begin touch labor on its first 737-800 in January 2021, but a second […]

GA Telesis moves into 737NG freighter market

• Jeff Lee
• July 30, 2020
• Aircraft, Conversions, Editorial, Equipment, Freighter Aircraft Transactions, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

[Edited to add commentary from GA Telesis.] Florida-headquartered GA Telesis has placed an order for one 737-800SF conversion with Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI), with an option for a second aircraft [FATs 005533-005534]. According to GA Telesis and AEI, the first aircraft to be converted (32903) will be inducted in August and is expected to be […]

AEI commences 737-800 conversions in China

• Jeff Lee
• July 17, 2020
• Aircraft, Editorial, Equipment, Narrowbody Conversions, News, Strategy

Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) has begun converting 737-800s at the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Company (STAECO) facility in Jinan (TNA). The first aircraft (29916, ex-AnadoluJet) was ferried by BlackRock from Shannon (SNN) to TNA July 9 to be inducted for conversion [FAT 005504]. In May, when the agreement between BlackRock and AEI for up to […]