How Do They Do It_ - Airplane Recycling

Airplane recycling pertains to the process of harvesting parts and materials from end-of-life aircraft. As the airline industry looks to become more eco-friendly as well as to cut costs, one area of increasing interest is that of aircraft recycling. With 12,000 aircraft scheduled to be decommissioned over the next two decades, recycling will play a larger role.

Aircraft recyclers remove various components and materials including short and long glass and carbon fiber composites, aluminum, wires, textiles and carpet, landing gears, electronic devices, foam, fluids, titanium and steel alloys, engines, and other components.

The most valuable components are typically the engines. Parts which can be reused or refurbished have the most value, and provide the profitability of recycling operations, especially if the plane has detailed maintenance records about the history of those parts. The recovery of other materials from the carcass or shell of the aircraft for recycling is less profitable than the retrieval of parts. While still early in its lifecycle, aircraft recycling is becoming a more urgent priority as more and more airplanes land for a final time.