No airplane lasts forever. Even when properly maintained, most airplanes last for an average of 20 to 40 years. Technically, the lifespan of airplanes is measured in the number of pressurization cycles in undergoes. For a typical commercial airplane, however, that accounts to about 20 to 40 years on average. After an airplane is deemed no longer safe to fly, it’s pulled from service and recycled.
Removal of Basic Components
The first step of recycling an airplane involves the removal of basic components, some of which may include seats, cockpit controls, wires, windows and other easily accessible components. To say airplanes have a lot of components would be an understatement. According to NBC News, a 737 contains roughly 367,000 individual components, each of which performs a specific task. When recycling an airplane, companies must disassemble and remove these components, beginning with the most easily accessible components first.
Removal of Larger Components
After removing the basic components, the recycling company will begin to remove the larger components from the aircraft. This may include the airplane’s engine or engines, wings, batteries and landing gear. In many cases, the removal of these larger components requires heavy-lifting machines.
Separation for Recycling
Next, the components are separated according to the material from which they are made. Airplanes often contain a variety of different recyclable materials, including glass, plastic, steel, aluminum, brass, copper and carbon fiber. Components of each type of material are placed into a separate pile so that they can be recycled. While the exact steps to recycling the various components varies, they are often smelted down to the base metal or material from which they were made. In some cases, though, the components are simply resold for use in other aircraft. If a component contains hazard waste, it may require additional steps to recycle.
Facts About Recycling Airplanes
Statistics show that roughly 400 to 450 airplanes are recycled each year. It’s a simple way for airlines to offset the cost of new airplanes. If an airline has an aging airplane that it can no longer safely fly, it may recycle it and use that money towards the purchase of a replacement airplane.
You might be surprised to learn just how much some airplane components are worth when recycled. Seats, for example, can range in value from $400 to $5,000, whereas landing gear is often valued at millions of dollars. Before a recycled component can be reused, however, it must first receive a Certificate of Airworthiness.
