PEMCO & COOPESA COMPLETE FIRST OF SEVERAL 737-400F CONVERSIONS FOR BRAZIL’S RIO CARGO

TAMPA, Fla. (May 13, 2014) – PEMCO World Air Services (PEMCO) today announced the redelivery of a 737-400F (MSN 25375) for Brazil’s Rio Linhas Aéreas (Rio Cargo), the national postal service carrier of Brazil. The 11-pallet freighter was converted at PEMCO’s Costa Rican conversion operation at COOPESA.

Rio Cargo is currently modernizing its fleet that recently numbered 12 Boeing 727s and two 767s to PEMCO-converted 737-400F’s. PEMCO was selected to undertake the conversion from passenger to freighter due to its high quality, state-of-the-art freighter door, superior flight capability and unrivaled two million hours of safe, reliable operations.

PEMCO’s B737 freighter conversions are the world’s only designed, built and supported with genuine Boeing data obtained under a full license agreement to outperform and outlast the competition. Additionally, Rio Cargo chose PEMCO’s COOPESA facility for its craftsmanship and ideal location to Rio Cargo’s home base in Curitiba, Brazil.

Rio Linhas Aéreas will operate their PEMCO 737-400 freighters on behalf of DHL Express, replacing five B727-200s and a B767-200F, and for Correios – the Brazilian Postal Service’s courier division – for whom Rio Cargo hauls an average of 75 tonnes of mail each day.

This aircraft is the first announced freighter redelivery of several currently in the pipeline with Global Air Fleet (GAF), an international multi-functional sales and remarketing aircraft company. GAF provided technical service and transition financing on behalf of Rio Cargo. GAF provides a wide range of technical services, which include aircraft evaluation, borescope inspections, aircraft and engine record audit, asset management, document preparation and aircraft maintenance, in addition to sourcing and financial services.

In addition to the Rio Cargo / Global Airfleet conversions, PEMCO’s COOPESA conversion operation is currently converting a 737-400F for a Middle Eastern customer and 737-300F for a UK-based customer.