Aeroplanes, and in particular commercial aircraft, have a defined lifetime and once they are deemed to be beyond economical repair, they are removed from service. But where do they go and what happens to them?
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At these facilities, the aircraft are assessed by specialist mechanical engineers who will determine which parts and components can be salvaged and which are at their end of life. Some aircraft consigned to a boneyard may still be perfectly serviceable, and these planes may be advertised to private buyers or smaller commercial fleets who see them as a cost-effective alternative to buying brand-new aircraft.
Aviation parts suppliers such as https://www.aerfin.com/beyond-fleet-services/beyond-engine/ can purchase components from boneyards which they can then recondition and have certified as safe for reuse. They will then resell these to clients who have an aircraft of the same make and model that they wish to keep operational.
Other parts of the plane are dismantled and recycled. Recycling plastic and metal components in particular can generate a healthy income for boneyard operators and transform the process of decommissioning unwanted aircraft into a lucrative business.
The Benefits of Boneyards
Aircraft operators must abide by stringent safety regulations. Occasionally an operator will decide that the cost of keeping an ageing fleet operational and compliant with modern safety standards exceeds the value they gain from the aircraft. Boneyards can buy these planes, allowing their previous owners to replace them with aircraft that comply with modern standards.
By taking old aircraft out of service and replacing them with modern versions, businesses can reduce their carbon emissions and make cost efficiencies. By safely decommissioning these aircraft, harvesting serviceable parts and effectively recycling as much as possible, the environmental impact of the plane is minimised. All of these factors combined mean that boneyards play an important role in aircraft sustainability.