Aerolineas Argentinas’ second 737-800F delivered to Argentina on 20May23

LV-KHQ was originally delivered as a passenger aircraft to VARIG in 2001, going on to fly for Gol, Meridiana, Airitaly, and Neos before being stored in 2020 and converted to a pure freighter by Commercial Jet, an Aeronautical Engineers Inc. conversion center located at the Dothan (DHN) Regional Airport in Alabama.     

LV-KHQ arrived in Argentina in an all-white “color” scheme but is expected to be painted shortly in the same livery as sistership LV-CTC, which is a modified scheme from the Aerolineas passenger aircraft.  The aircraft will primarily serve the same customer as LV-CTC, Mirgor S.A., but will also be available for freight charters at other times.       

The Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) B737-800SF Cargo Conversion consists of the installation of a 86″ x 137″ cargo door on the left side of the fuselage, and modification of main deck to a Class E cargo compartment.  After conversion the aircraft can carry eleven 88″ x 125″ AAA full height containers or pallets plus one AEP/AEH, with pallet weights up to 9,000 lbs. AEI’s B737-800SF is now ETOPS 180 approved.
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AEI’s cargo door has earned a reputation of being the most robust and reliable in the conversion industry.  The cargo door is hydraulically operated and actuated from the inside of the aircraft by a independent system.  Hydraulic pressure is available from two sources: a 28VDC electrically operated hydraulic pump or a manual hand pump.  The door control and manual pump are located on the 9g barrier, allowing a single person to operate the door manually.

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Main Attributes

• Can accommodate eleven 88″x125″ AAA full height containers or pallets plus one AEP/AEH

• Up to 52,700 LB (23,904 KG) Main Deck Payload (depending on Model & Aircraft Weight Limits)

• Reinforced Floor structure for highest average position weights in industry

• 86″ x 140″ cargo door

• Single Vent Door System

• High reliability, 28VDC, independent cargo door hydraulic system

• Cabin windows replaced with lightweight aluminum window plugs

• 9g rigid cargo / smoke barrier with sliding door

• Relocated DFDR for 84.5″ + ceiling height through out cargo compartment, including last position

• Stretch Formed fuselage skins

• 5 Supernumerary Seats