New Zealand-based Airwork has ordered two firm and five optional B737-400SF eleven pallet configuration passenger-to-freighter conversions from Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI).  Airwork will make the freighter aircraft available to its ACMI and dry lease customers.  The first aircraft, built in 1992 has already been modified at Commercial Jet Services’ Dothan, Alabama facility and was successfully redelivered to Airwork on August 14th.  It has since been placed with one of Airwork’s existing ACMI customers. The second aircraft has entered conversion at Commercial Jet Services in Dothan Alabama, which is an authorised AEI Conversion Center and is scheduled to be completed in February of 2015. As part of Airwork’s fixed wing dry lease expansion plan, it has recently committed to purchasing six B737-400 sister ship aircraft from a major airline to add to the one aircraft it previously acquired.  Airwork has already taken delivery of the first two aircraft and will take delivery of the next four aircraft progressively over the next six months.

AEI’s vice president of operations, David McDonald said, “We are proud to have a customer such as Airwork recognise the significant value that AEI conversions offer to aircraft owners and operators.”