This article is published in Aviation Daily part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Jan 20, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
KF Aerospace earned Transport Canada approval for its Boeing 737-800 Combi supplemental type certificate (STC), clearing the way for the first-of-its-kind configuration to enter service with launch customer Air Inuit.
The aircraft, modified using partner Aeronautical Engineers Inc.’s (AEI) 737 large cargo door, features five forward cargo compartment main pallet positions and a 90-passenger aft fuselage cabin.
KF Aerospace developed integrated fire detection, halon-based fire suppression, and advanced smoke-containment systems for the forward cargo section and modified existing freighter-specific detection systems to meet Combi-specific requirements.
The Canadian company also designed and implemented extensive structural modifications as part of the conversion package. The work involved creating hundreds of new parts and custom-engineered changes, the company said.
“This project reflects the ingenuity, dedication, and deep technical expertise of our entire team,” KF Aerospace President Gregg Evjen said. “KF is proud to deliver a world-first solution that expands what’s possible in aircraft conversion and supports our customers’ complex operational needs.”
“By combining AEI’s cargo door conversion expertise with KF’s engineering and operational strengths, we are able to deliver a world-first Combi that unlocks new possibilities for operators worldwide,” AEI SVP Robert T. Convey said.
Air Inuit in 2023 announced it would acquire three 737-800s as part of a fleet modernization program that would phase out 737-200s.
The 737-800C is part of the new sub-fleet, joining a 737-800F that entered service in 2024. A second 737-800C is being modified under the STC.
Related Content
