AFRA accredits two more aircraft recyclers

United States – The US Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) has expanded its list of accredited recyclers by adding Minnesota-based Aircraft Demolition and Dutch player Aircraft End-of-Life Solutions (AELS). According to the association, the accreditations are based on its renewed Best Management Practices Guide dealing with recycling aircraft materials.AFRA currently offers two accreditations: one for disassembly of aircraft and the other for materials recycling. The association comprises 71 members in 11 countries, including Boeing Commercial Aircraft, Europe Aviation and Rolls Royce. Between them, these companies are said to recycle ‘up to 150 airplanes a year’ – or over 30 000 tonnes of aluminium.

‘We had thought that our activities were already at the standards in the BMP Guide but we found out that some of our practices and procedures could in fact be improved,’ says Derk Jan van Heerdan, general manager of AELS. ‘The accreditation process not only covered the third-party recycling of fan blades which we carry out for a client, it also covered all the recycling of airframes which we carry out, which is a key part of our business.’

Aircraft Demolition’s ceo Tim Zemanovic adds: ‘More and more companies are requiring the accreditations in order to do business with them and this has certainly opened new opportunities for us.’

At present, the market for aircraft parts is worth around US$ 2 billion per annum, says AFRA. It estimates that 12 000 to 15 000 aircraft will reach their end-of-life stage by 2030.

For more information, visit: www.afraassociation.org, www.aircraftdemolition.com and www.aels.nl