Aircraft Recycling + Product Destruction = Profit Takeoff

Everyone knows that it's important to recycle, but while most people are putting pop cans in the bin, companies are turning older aircraft into recycled gold. Do you ever wonder what happens when an airplane or jet gets too old or worn out to be safely used for flight?

These mammoth machines have thousands of dollars worth of recyclable metal and reusable parts that can help recoup some money from derelict aircraft. Airplane parts can be expensive to purchase new, so manufacturers and airlines purchase used parts from companies that specialize in aircraft deconstruction and recycling. According to the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA), more than 5000 aircraft are expected to be deconstructed by 2028.

It's no surprise that given the complexity of aircraft parts and the valuable cargo airplanes hold, used parts must be of the highest quality. AFRA has helped design benchmarks for recycling and deconstruction to make sure the parts won't cause problems once installed.

Once an aircraft is deemed too old or costly to run, it is taken to a product destruction company with the capabilities to break down an airplane. These companies may be located at old military bases or airports. The plane is stripped of all materials that may be hazardous, such as deicing fluid and even radioactive material.

The engine is the major money maker of a plane and worth more close to $30,000 by itself. It is one of the first pieces removed, followed by all the avionic and electrical equipment. A single seat from an airplane can cost between $450 to $5,000, so the interior is removed as well.

With all the goodie bits taken out, the plane is stripped of all its valuable metals, including aluminum and alloys. A single Boeing 747 can have more than 100 tons of metal. Right now, the plane is at its lightest, so it can easily be propped up to remove the valuable landing gear.

One of the largest and previously unrecyclable parts of the aircraft is the cylindrical fuselage, the body of the airplane that holds the passengers. The average airplane has a recycling rate of about 70 percent, but as technology advanced the fuselage became viable and that rate has jumped to 90 percent. The fuselage is taken apart by an industrial-sized wrecking machine with a giant claw. The metal is then identified using a metal analysis gun that uses x-rays to pinpoint the metal’s chemical make-up Anything remaining from the plane is shredded.

While your pop can collection can net you a cool $20 at the local recycle business, a plane can net several millions of dollars in parts and metals.