Aerospace

BBAM Orders 9 More 737-800 BCF, Takes First Position at New Conversion Line

Boeing and BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM) announced yesterday that the lessor has placed a definitive order for nine additional #737-800 #Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft.

Boeing Forecasts Air Cargo Traffic to Increase Twofold Over Next 20 Years

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM) announced today that the lessor has placed a definitive order for nine additional 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) aircraft. The transaction takes BBAM’s total 737-800BCF orders to 40, as demand for the single-aisle freighter remains robust.

BBAM will be the first customer to receive a 737-800BCF conversion from a new conversion line slated to begin next year at KF Aerospace, a Kelowna, British Columbia-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) supplier. Boeing said last year that it would open two 737-800BCF conversion lines at KF Aerospace commencing in 2023.

The 737-800BCF is the industry leader in standard body freighters, with over 250 orders and commitments from 20+ customers and more than 90 deliveries to date. When compared to 737 Classic freighters, the freighter can carry up to 23.9 tonnes (52,800 lbs.) and travels 2,025 nautical miles (3,750 km).

BBAM has conversion slots at additional Boeing MRO suppliers, including Alajuela, Costa Rica-based Cooperativa Autogestionaria de Servicios Aeroindustriales (COOPESA) and Shanghai, China-based Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services (BSAS).

“Our cooperation with BBAM on the 737-800BCF began with an order for three conversions in 2020, and after a series of additional orders, BBAM is now one of the 737-800BCF’s top customers, with orders for 40 of the type,” said Kate Schaefer., vice president of commercial modifications, engineering, and speciality products at Boeing. “We are humbled by BBAM’s continuous trust in Boeing, and we are pleased to provide high-quality and reliable conversion capacity throughout a global network of MRO vendors, where our clients require it the most.”

Boeing has over 40 years of successful passenger-to-freighter conversion experience, relying on original design data and a deep understanding of the air cargo industry’s needs to deliver a superior, integrated product that includes fully integrated manuals and world-class in-service technical support. Boeing Converted Freighters also have the benefit of being linked with the industry’s most comprehensive array of services, support, and solutions. Find out more about the 737-800BCF and the rest of the Boeing cargo family here.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.