M7 Aerospace Delivers 20th ATR - 42 Converted From Passenger to Freight Configuration

San Antonio, TX – June 8, 2005

M7 Aerospace MRO Facility Delivers 20th ATR-42 Converted From Passenger to Freight Configuration

San Antonio, Texas - M7 Aerospace has delivered the 20th ATR-42 regional airliner converted from passenger to freight configuration in its Maintenance Repair and Overhaul facilities here.

The conversion was completed in M7's San Antonio Repair Station to the specifications of M7's proprietary Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for converting ATR-42s to cargo configuration.

M7 is currently developing an additional STC to convert ATR-72 regional airliners from passenger to freight configuration. M7 expects to receive FAA approval for the ATR-72 certification in the coming weeks.

Conversion of an ATR-42 from passenger to freighter configuration entails removing passenger configuration amenities from the cabin, including the cabin sidewalls; strengthening the floor structure to bear additional weight, installing cargo liner formers, installing new interior structure to secure cargo in flight, modifying the doors and adding a conveyor system to facilitate cargo loading and unloading of, and installing a smoke detection system.

Converting regional airliners from passenger to cargo configuration is one of M7's areas of core business expertise. The company performs conversions at both of its FAA Part 145-certified repair stations, one in San Antonio (Certificate G78R691X) and one at the company's facility in Springfield, MO (Certificate OWFR547L).

In addition to ATR-42s, M7 has experience in converting DeHavilland Dash 8s, Saab 340s, Embraer 120s and Fairchild Merlins and Metroliners from passenger to freight configuration.

Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) is one of M7's five primary business activities. The company specializes in providing fleet service to commercial and government operators of regional aircraft and to other aviation customers.

M7's repair stations have extensive heavy maintenance capabilities, and can perform C-checks on ATR-42s and ATR-72s, all series of DeHavilland Dash 8s, all series of Saab 340s, all series of Embraer 120s, 135s and 145s, and all series of Metroliners.

Additional M7 repair station capabilities include special mission conversions, corporate interior conversions, Garrett/Honeywell TPE-331 heavy maintenance, and a range of avionics services including installation of TCAS and TAWS systems, flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders

Besides its MRO activity, M7 specializes in government contract logistics support programs; aircraft parts and product support; aerostructures manufacturing, and aerial mapping with digital imaging products.

M7 currently holds three Logistics Support contracts with the U.S. government to support fleets of C-26, C-23 and C-20 aircraft. C-26 is the government designation for a Fairchild Metro 23 regional airliner. C-20 is the designation for Gulfstream III or IV aircraft. C-23 is the government designation for a Shorts SD-360.

The Aerostructures Manufacturing segment of M7 Aerospace is capable of building virtually anything airframe-related from the smallest detail parts to complete aircraft. More than 1,000 Fairchild Metro and Merlin-series aircraft were built in M7's (formerly Fairchild Aircraft, Inc.) facilities. The San Antonio-based factory team also built complete wings for Dornier 328 fanjet regional airliners.

M7 is an approved supplier to Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and other well-known aerospace manufacturers.

M7 Aerospace supports the worldwide fleet of Fairchild Metro- and Merlin-series aircraft through the company's product support and Metro parts segment. M7 holds the type certificate for these airplanes and aggressively performs its role as the Original Equipment Manufacturer.

M7 Aerospace's fifth core business is M7 Visual Intelligence (VI). It specializes in remote sensing and surveillance, including ultra-high resolution digitally collected and processed true-color imaging, near-infra-red imaging and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).

VI's combination of the imaging and LiDAR generates photomaps that are sub-meter accurate in latitude and longitude, and better than 15-cm accurate in elevation.

Major applications of VI's technology include forestry, environmental studies, engineering, pipeline planning, construction, city planning and flood control studies. VI also markets its patented high-resolution color camera systems to the public and private sectors for mapping, and reconnaissance applications. VI also provides automated image processing.

M7 Aerospace is based on the international airport in San Antonio, Texas. The company is located in a 426,000 sq. ft. factory complex formerly occupied by Fairchild Aircraft. M7 acquired the assets of Fairchild Aircraft in December 2002 and began operations under its own name on April 1, 2003

M7 Aerospace was formed in December 2002, when it acquired the assets of the three operating subsidiaries of Fairchild Aircraft: Metro Support Services, Inc., (MSSI), Merlin Express Inc., (MEI), and Gen-Aero, Inc., (d.b.a. Fairchild Aircraft Services). In February, 2003, M7 also acquired the assets of Dornier Aviation North America (DANA).

M7 began with approximately 175 employees two years ago, including 116 in San Antonio. The company now employs approximately 580 people worldwide and more than 330 in San Antonio. In addition to its San Antonio facilities, M7 has offices and facilities in Houston, Texas, Springfield, Mo., and Bridgeport, W.Va.

To learn more about M7 Aerospace, please visit the company's Web site at www.M7Aerospace.com.

Media Contact: Mike Potts or Phil O’Connor
Tel. (210) 824-9421 ext. 7759
Fax (210) 824-9476
(Email)

© 2012 M7 Aerospace, All Rights Reserved      Contact Us