Freighter conversion frenzy continues with Automatic order

Aeronautical Engineers, Inc (AEI) has signed a contract with US and European leasing company Automatic for two 11-pallet-position B737-400SF freighter conversions.
Both aircraft were built in 1993, are standard gross weight and the work will be carried out by AEI’s modification and repair specialist Commercial Jet at its Miami facility.
The aircraft are due to be re-delivered in September and January 2017, respectively.
AEI says its B737-400SF is the only passenger to freighter conversion that offers ten full height 88” x 125” container positions due to a main deck cargo position 40” further back than the competition.
They add that is flexibility allows operators to quickly adapt to multiple ULD configurations.
The announcement follows a flurry of conversion orders in the past month.
On April 27, AEI signed a contract with Vallair for four 11 pallet position Boeing 737-400SF freighter conversions to be modified by Commercial Jet’s Dothan, Alabama facility.
A few days earlier, rival US-based conversion specialist PACAVI, confirmed the first orders for its Airbus A320-321passenger-to-freighter conversion programme, with São Paulo based business charter company Colt Aviation ordering two converted A321 freighters with an option for one more and Norway’s Airline Management acquiring six A320 freighters.
Precision Aircraft Solutions also said it had had a busy start to the year after receiving an order for eight Boeing 757-200 freighters – six from China Postal Airlines and two for new cargo airline China Air Cargo Corp.
China Postal’s order follows on from its order of 10 B737-800 converted freighters confirmed last year.
Converted freighters are popular with express operators as their relatively low utilisation per day requires a low capital cost asset.
Recent deliveries of completed conversions include two B757s by Precision to DHL mid-March and a third to SF Airlines, the 14th Precision passenger-to-freighter 757 aircraft to join the operation.