The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association, a group of aviation industry experts that have joined to agree on a set of standards for the dismantling and recycling of aircraft, has today awarded Bombardier as the first aircraft manufacturer to have accreditation for its aircraft recycling centre. Previously, recycling has only been done by specialist companies such as the Châteauroux Airport-based Barton Aero Recycling.

The field of aircraft recycling has really started to grow. It used to be talked of in terms of ‘scrapping’ aircraft once they had reached the end of their useful service life (often 20-30 years). Now, it is estimated that over 95% of a plane can be recycled, whether that be for spare parts or indeed melted down for use in other areas. In fact, manufacturers of aircraft like Airbus and Boeing are now designing aircraft not just with a safe and long life in mind, but how compatible they will be to recycling once their flying days are over.

The members of AFRA are currently able to recycle around 150 aircraft each year and, as more aircraft get replaced with newer, more efficient models, that number is set to increase. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 6,000 aircraft may retire over the next couple of decades.

As this film from the National Geographic Channel explores, recycling an aircraft can take much more planning than recycling your newspapers!