FTAI Aviation will combine its engine maintenance capabilities with Aeronautical Engineers’ (AEI) freighter conversion operation with the aim of delivering Boeing 737-800 passenger to freighter (P2F) conversions at scale and at a lower cost.
With almost 6,000 aircraft delivered to date, the Boeing 737-800 is the most widely produced narrowbody in aviation history.
FTAI said its ability to provide CFM56 engines is critical to support the market at scale and its aftermarket engine maintenance capabilities will play a central role in ensuring AEI’s 737-800P2Fs can fly reliably and cost-effectively for airlines worldwide.
AEI has developed over 130 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) and more than 625 aircraft have been modified with AEI STCs – more than any other conversion provider, the company claimed.
“The Boeing 737-800 is poised to become the workhorse of narrowbody freight, but growth has been constrained by the lack of an engine solution designed for cargo economics,” said David Moreno, president of FTAI.
“We can build and maintain lower cycle engines customised for cargo, enabling FTAI and AEI to deliver aircraft at a significantly lower operating cost. This collaboration adds cargo to FTAI’s CFM56 platform, extending the engine’s lifecycle across passenger, cargo and power.”
Robert Convey, senior vice president at AEI, remarked: “AEI has led the global narrowbody freighter conversion market for over 60 years and has converted more aircraft than any other provider in the industry.
“Combining our conversion expertise with FTAI’s engine maintenance services gives airlines a proven path to freighter capacity built for the long term.”
Last year, AEI announced it was developing an Boeing 737-900ER freighter conversion with 206 cu m cargo volume and 26-tonne payload, targeting 2029 certification
