The Alabama facility joins a growing number of AEI Authorized Conversion Centers which include Commercial Jet’s Florida facility based in Miami Florida, Flightstar Aircraft Services, Inc. based in Jacksonville Florida and Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services based in Shanghai China.
“It was critical that we secure another Authorized Conversion Center to keep up with ever increasing market demand,” said Robert T. Convey, VP sales & marketing for AEI. “CJ’s facility in Alabama will benefit from CJ’s Miami conversion experience and be able to tap into a local work force that is traditionally strong in aircraft structures and MRO. After the completion of the twelve million dollar construction renovation, CJ’s Alabama facility, with its planned six conversion lines will become the largest passenger to freighter conversion facility in the world.”
John Schildroth, VP and GM for the Dothan facility, said Commercial Jet plans to hire several hundred trained and experienced aircraft technicians in the local market within the next few years. “We are already getting a flow of new orders for our new facility, which will be open for business in the 2nd quarter of this year,” he said.
Commercial Jet’s Alabama facility will initially open three production lines capable of converting 12 AEI 737SF and MD80SF aircraft annually with the first three B-400’s expected to enter into conversion in the 2nd quarter of 2013. Based on the plans for 2014, capacity would reach 24 AEI 737SF & MD80SF conversions per year.
Meanwhile, AEI also announced that it has been selected by Kahala Aviation of Ireland to provide two firm B737-400SF 11 Pallet Configuration conversions, with options for two additional conversions to be started in May of 2013. The first aircraft, a B737-400 was built in 1991 and will be converted at one of AEI’s North American Conversion Facilities. Both B737-400SF conversions are being converted on spec and are currently available for lease.
Mark Thatcher, chief aircraft trader for Kahala said that among the company’s decision to convert with AEI was its reputation for quality and customer support and AEI’s B737- 400SF having the capability to carry up to 10 full height AAA containers, both of which “will without a doubt give us an advantage when marketing our AEI 737-400SF fleet,” he said.
The order by Kahala follows closely from a similar order for one B737- 400SF 11 Pallet Configuration Freighter Conversion from Sideral Air Cargo of Brasil. The freighter was flown to back to Brasil in late March and is now the only B737-400SF operating in Brasil. The aircraft, an ex AirOne high gross weight B737-400 was built in 1991 and underwent freighter modification at AEI’s Authorized Conversion Center, Commercial Jet, Inc., located in Miami.
