Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) received a new Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for cargo conversion for the 737-700BDSF from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). IAI has recently completed its first ever conversion of a prototype aircraft from passenger to full-freighter configuration at its facility, including the installation of a wide cargo door. The aircraft was delivered to Alaska Airline as the first of 3-aircraft order. The entire work was performed at IAI’s Bedek Aviation Group facilities in Israel.
IAI designed the B737-700BDSF Conversion with a 84″ X 134″ cargo door on the left side and an additional modification of the main deck to the Class “E” cargo compartment. The converted B737-700BDSF can carry a total of 10 ULD’s – 8 Full 88″X 125″ AAA plus 1 80″X43″ AYK plus 1 88″X79″ AYF, providing a total useful volume of 3673 cu. ft. enabling the plane to carry up to 45,000 lbs.
Yossi Melamed, Corporate Executive Vice President and General Manager of Bedek Aviation Group: “IAI is proud to add the conversion of 737-700BDSF to the successful portfolio of its developed STCs for cargo conversions of passenger aircrafts. IAI’s Bedek Aviation Group has been a key player for over 40 years in the design, development, testing, certification and implementation of modifications and conversions of an endless number of platforms.”
