Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) is pleased to announce that Eric Wildhagen joins as vice president of Engineering. Eric brings to AEI over 30 years of broad-based passenger-to-freighter aircraft engineering and certification process experience. Prior to joining AEI, Eric was chief engineer at Precision Aircraft Solutions where he worked on program management for passenger-to-freighter conversions. Before that, Eric worked with both GDC Technics and Jet Aviation as director of Engineering focusing on VIP completions for multiple Airbus and Boeing aircraft types. While at Jet Aviation, Eric managed over 300 engineers and was responsible for all engineering aspects including interfacing with the FAA, EASA and other foreign aviation authorities. Eric also worked with Pemco as vice president of Engineering leading the company’s freighter conversion efforts for the B737-300 and B737-400 aircraft.

 

“There are less than a handful of senior engineers that have lead numerous passenger-to-freighter conversion programs from inception to market adoption; Eric is certainly one of those people,” stated Roy Sandri, AEI President. “We are delighted that Eric has chosen to join the AEI team as we continue to strengthen our reputation as the world’s leading narrow-body freighter conversion expert.”

 

During his career, Eric has also held various engineering and management positions dealing with mechanical, structural, electrical, stress analysis and certification aspects for companies including, BAE Systems, SR Technics and Gulfstream.

 

“I am very excited about this new opportunity with AEI,” said Eric Wildhagen. “The company continues to demonstrate its leadership role within the industry as is supported by the highly successful B737-400SF, MD80SF and CRJ200 SF programs and having already received over 100 orders and commitments for its B737-800SF freighter conversion, which will be certified soon.”

 

Eric holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois.