Breathing New Life Into Retired Jumbo Jets

The air travel industry has decreased in the last two years due to the effects of the coronavirus disease pandemic. As a result, a number of jumbo air jets that used to cruise the skies now sit with their engines off. The problem has left aircraft owners wondering where and how to put down these machines. But these planes may have one last chance for flight, even if only in parts, because of new trends to recycle a jumbo jet. 

Left for dead

The pandemic did not turn a blind eye to air travel. As one of the hardest-hit industries, the global virus caused billions of losses to an otherwise stable industry.

Today, the weak demand for air travel has left almost a quarter of the world’s planes in storage facilities. As of June 2021, 5,467 airplanes are currently parked in storage, where their spots rack up quite a fee.

Rob Morris, head consultant for Ascend, a data analytics company, says this equals a quarter of the global inventory.

It’s worth mentioning that this number has fallen from the 2020 stats. Sixty-four percent of all the world’s planes were unused in April 2020. Meanwhile, data from February 2021 showed an improvement of 35 percent. Still, the number is at an all-time high.

It’s no secret that the end-of-life stages of a jumbo jet are costly. And owners will often choose between paying storage fees or recycling charges from leasing or supply companies.

However, James Cobbold, director of engine leasing company Willis Lease, suggests that owners are now more likely to prefer selling aircraft parts for disassembly rather than paying parking fees.

Through it all, airplane owners managed to find an ecologically-friendly way to address the problem.

Causes for concern

Airplanes grounded in airports and other facilities usually arrive at disassembly stations like Cotswold Airport in either one of three conditions.

Jumbo jets can be sent in mint condition, with only the usual pre-flight checks. Others, however, require more long-term storage that involves removing the engine. On the other hand, there are the occasional beaten-up planes, and the only option is to recycle the jumbo jet and separate its parts.

The increase of grounded planes has incentivized faster and more creative recycling efforts. And surprisingly, most companies can recycle a jumbo jet in massive quantities. But, how do they do it, and why?

Recycle a jumbo jet: the race to progress 

When not disposed of correctly, aircraft parts can cause great pollution. The race to recycle a jumbo jet has become appealing for business owners to join in the collective effort to reduce their global carbon footprint.

So, how do companies recycle a jumbo jet? With its huge parts and machinery, it is quite difficult to take apart and, all the more, repurpose. 

Cobbold reveals that his company can recycle 92 to 99 percent of an aircraft through “natural recycled purposes.” Parts like the engine, landing gear, wheels, and other flight tools in the cockpit are the easiest to reuse. Mainly because these are only redistributed to other planes.

The challenge, however, is in recycling carbon fiber from the seats of the cabin. The complex plastic material makes it difficult to recycle and repurpose. But even flight owners have found a way to address that.

UAE airline company Emirates has converted its popular A380 model airplane into furniture to sell to its loyal customers. It is part of the company’s effort to keep carbon emissions down.   

If there is anything industries have learned in the pandemic, it is creativity and innovation. While waiting for the world to turn back to normal, the best thing these planes can offer is a newer life to other aircraft.

For other stories, read more here at Owner’s Mag.