ASTRAL AVIATION ORDERS THREE AEI MD83SF 12 PALLET CONVERSIONS

MIAMI, FL., -JUNE 4, 2013 - Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI), is pleased to announce that it has been selected by Astral Aviation of Nairobi, Kenya to provide one firm and two optional MD83SF 12 Pallet Configuration conversions. The aircraft will all be high gross weight MD83’s with auxiliary fuel tanks which will allow for a 2600 nm range. The modifications will commence in August of 2013 at AEI’s Authorized Conversion Center, Commercial Jet.

Mr. Robert T. Convey, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for AEI stated that “Astral showed early interest in our MD80SF program which is now in full production. This MD80SF order represents the first on the African continent which is showing great interest in the freighter type.” He goes onto say “AEI is forecasting a demand for 25+ MD80SF freighters on the continent over the next five years.”

AEI’s MD83SF shall provide Astral with an Ancra CLS capable of carrying multiple ULD’s including:

• (12) 88″ × 108″ containers/pallets, P1 to P12 or
• (8) 125″ × 88″ pallets, P1 to P8 or
• (8) 125″ × 96″ pallets, P1 to P8

This unique flexibility has been designed by AEI to allow the operator to immediately adapt to multiple ULD configurations at a moment’s notice. When combined with proven reliability, the AEI Converted MD83SF will allow Astral to keep their aircraft where they belong “In the air, generating revenue.”