Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI), a global leader in passenger to freighter conversions, launched a new branding initiative at ACMG’s Fifteenth Annual Aircraft Cargo Facts Symposium in Seattle in September.
“We bring more than 50 years of knowledge and experience to the table in helping our customers repurpose their aircraft and maximize the value of their assets.” said Roy Sandri, president. “Our new corporate logo reflects our team’s advanced engineering capabilities and total dedication to serving our customers. We adopted ‘optimum conversion solutions’ for our slogan because it indicates that our freighter configurations offer the highest capacity at the best value in the industry.”
AEI offers a comprehensive package of conversion services that includes engineering, manufacturing, installation, maintenance and support. This coordinated approach provides AEI’s customers with accelerated project schedules, improved quality and single-source accountability.
“Now, we are building a network of authorized facilities worldwide through our AEI Conversion Center Partner Program,” said David McDonald, vice president, operations. “By partnering with high-quality providers, AEI offers the worldwide market high-quality conversions, delivered consistently in a timely manner and at a competitive price.”
AEI’s optimum conversion solutions involve the complete transformation of a passenger aircraft into a freighter, including installation of a cargo door, class E cargo compartment, smoke detection system, rigid 9g barrier, cargo handling system and other features. “Our cargo doors are known to be the most robust and reliable in the aerospace industry, and the entire package is designed to maximize the aircraft’s operating efficiency and long-term value,” Sandri added.
AEI received its first STC for a passenger to freighter conversion in the late 1960s on a McDonnell Douglas DC-6. Since then, AEI has developed engineering packages and STCs for General Dynamic aircraft models 22/22M, Convair models CV-240, CV-240-27, and CV-340/440, as well as McDonnell Douglas DC-6/6B, DC-7 and DC-8. During the 1980s and ’90s, AEI obtained STCs for passenger to freighter conversions on B727-100, B727-200, L1011 and L188 aircraft. Models currently undergoing conversion include the eight-pallet B737-200, the nine-pallet B737-300, and the ten-pallet B737-400.
