The Latest in Aircraft Teardown Projects

Credit: Air Salvage International

In late 2020, UK-based disassembly specialist Air Salvage International (ASI) reported a disassembly boom at its Cotswold Airport facilities. As of December 2020 it had 15 Boeing 747s on site for disassembly, including nine from British Airways.

ASI expects approximately 90% or more of the aircraft stored on site as a result of the industry’s downturn to eventually be sold for parts. In December 2020, it had approximately 50 aircraft stored on site, the most in its 23 year history.

Credit: ATS

ATS (Aviation Technical Services) recently took delivery of a Boeing 737-85R formerly operated by Ukraine International Airlines at its Kansas City, Missouri heavy maintenance and modification facility, where it will be disassembled in the coming weeks. The aircraft joins ATS’ other active teardown projects, including a Boeing 767-3G5ER, an Airbus A321-231 and an IAE V2533-A5. The A321, formerly operated by Air Busan, arrived at the Kansas City facility in mid-December 2020 and ATS plans to place targeted removal parts at its component shops in Dallas-Ft. Worth and Everett, Washington for repair.

Credit: Populous/Rey De Crecy Luxigon

Global design firm Populous will be using upcycled Airbus A340 fuselages as part of its environmentally sustainable design for the renovation project of a football stadium in Strasbourg, France. It will use 4,400m² of decommissioned A340 fuselage sections to create a main façade sunshade around Stade de la Meinau, which is home to Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace. The renovation project will commence in May 2022 and be completed in July 2025.

Credit: APOC Aviation

APOC Aviation began collaborating with Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW) and Eco-Fly in January 2021 on the first part-out project to take place at Rothenburg/Gorlitz Airport (EDBR). The Airbus A320 airframe, which APOC acquired from SmartLynx, will be parted out by EFW and Eco-Fly. APOC says the companies will be building best practices for fuselage disassembly to evaluate recycling concepts for aircraft on an industrial scale at the airport to establish a blueprint for future programs.

APOC plans to continue purchasing airframes throughout 2021 and recently opened a strategic spares hub in Singapore as part of its plans to expand global footprint.

Credit: Kellstrom Aerospace

Kellstrom Aerospace recently began the process of disassembling two engines in the U.S. The CF6-80C2B1F and CFM56-5B engines have Serviceable LPT Modules available for sale or exchange and the remaining used serviceable material will be available to support its engine programs for airline and MRO customers.

In 2020 it undertook teardown projects for an Airbus A319 with CFM56-5B6/P engines and an A320-214 with CFM56-5B4/P engines.

Credit: Aerocircular

Belgian end-of-life specialist Aerocircular recently began taking deliveries of seven Airbus A320s from Lufthansa Group, which it will dismantle at Ostend-Bruges International Airport. The last aircraft is expected to be delivered in mid-May. Aerocircular says its disassembly model aims to reuse all materials originating from aircraft in the most sustainable and ecological way possible, including through upcycling and recycling.

Credit: Kurt Hofmann

Tarmac Aerosave and VAS Aero Services partnered in late 2020 to tear down an Airbus A380 owned by German investor Dr. Peters Group. The teardown is taking place at Tarmac Aerosave’s site in Tarbes, France and VAS Aero Services will manage the process and handle global sale and distribution of the harvested serviceable parts. Tarmac Aerosave disassembled the first phased out A380 in 2019.

Credit: CFM

VAS Aero Services also acquired several engines for teardown in December 2020. It contracted with Boeing to acquire four Pratt & Whitney PW4000-94 Phase 3 engines for teardown and distribution of surplus parts. It also acquired multiple CFM56-7B engines for teardown and distribution of serviceable parts, the first of which was placed with SR Technics for teardown and parts recertification.

Credit: Pixabay

In early April 2021, GA Telesis announced it had completed the disassembly of three former All Nippon Airways Boeing 777-200 airframes, which it will use to supply used serviceable material. It says the disassembled 777-200s will support its global Flight Solutions Group customer base. GA Telesis says it has multiple other disassembly projects scheduled for 2021.