Aerolineas Argentinas' second converted pure-freighter 737-800F, LV-KHQ (c/n 30571/936) flew from Dothan (DHN) Alabama USA via Punta Cana (PUJ) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), arriving in the very early morning hours of 20May23, joining sistership LV-CTC (c/n 30570/879), which the airline took delivery of earlier this year and placed into service in early May operating contract flights from Tierra del Fuego for electrical goods manufacturer Mirgor S.A. (see http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com/2023/05/fleet-update-aerolineas-argentinas.html)
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.
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.
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
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