TAMPA/BAHRAIN: February 6, 2019. Pemco Conversions, a subsidiary of Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, is to convert a B737-700 passenger aircraft to a full freighter for Bahrain-based launch customer Chisholm Enterprises.

The Next Generation Boeing 737, which will begin conversion in Q2 this year, will have a maximum payload of 45,000 lbs. with nine 88 x 125 inch pallet positions and a volume of 3,844 cubic feet.

In 2017 Texel Air, a subsidiary of MRO operator Chisholm, was the launch customer for Pemco’s conversion of a B737-700 to a 'FlexCombi' version of the aircraft, designated a B737-700FC.

Chisholm formed Texel Air in 2013 to carry - among other shipments - dangerous goods, live animals (including grooms), fuel and perishables for customers throughout the GCC region.

“Over the past 10 years, we have partnered with Pemco to successfully deliver numerous aircraft designed specifically to meet our unique business requirements, the FlexCombi being one such example,” said Chisholm CEO George Chisholm. “With their proven expertise and insight into our business, they were our natural first choice service provider for the addition of a Next Generation full freighter to our fleet.”

After FAA approval, Pemco says it plans to certify both aircraft conversion programmes with the European Aviation Safety Agency and the Civil Aviation Administration of China.