Aircraft recycling system optimalization and aircraft sections re-use possibilities after the end of their economic life

Abstract

Purpose of this article is to evaluate re-use of sections from retired aicraft for further usage and additional optimalization of recycling and re-use of materials used in aircraft construction. With hundreds of commercial airplanes retired every year, the need for innovative approaches in recycling process rises. The concept of re-using parts from retired aircraft is not new. Before scrapping, valuable parts are of course stripped of the airplane. The article assesses if there is possibility to re-use parts and sections that usually end up scrapped in aviation and under which circumstances. Its first part is focused on analysis of procedures currently utilized during aircraft recycling, including brief description of decomissioning process, current state aircraft recycling in general, processes of disassembly and dismantle, existing facilities, description of recycling of alloys and composite materials. Second part deals with legislative, technical and environmental options of aircraft recycling and re-using aircraft sections. Third part focuses describes current parts market, together with proposal how to make it more efficient, current and possible future trends concerning aircraft recycling and re-use of materials and comparison of recycling between USA and Europe