Van Heerden fights for better aircraft recycling despite terminal illness

The reuse of aircraft parts has become global practice but for Derk-Jan van Heerden, founder and former md of Netherlands-based Aircraft End-of-Life Solutions (AELS), one dream remains: more recycling of metals and plastics from retired airplanes. To pursue this vision, Van Heerden launched the Aethos Foundation.

The foundation is still in its early stages and, sadly, it is unlikely that Van Heerden will witness its full development. In 2023, he announced via a video message that he was seriously ill and was stepping down from his role at AELS. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and a life expectancy of around one year.
‘The diagnosis was made more than a year ago, so in that sense, I’ve been somewhat lucky,’ Van Heerden said in his message. ‘But we know that this tumour means my life will likely end within a few months. For now, I still feel relatively well, and as long as that remains the case, I will continue to dedicate myself with passion to end-of-life aircraft.’

Unused parts

Under Van Heerden’s leadership, AELS has dismantled numerous aircraft over the years. The market for parts from relatively young, decommissioned aircraft is thriving.
‘Those parts are valuable,’ he explains. ‘Think of engines or the casings around them. Those components are already in circulation – or, to put it another way, that plane is still flying. But the aluminium from the fuselage and the plastics from the aircraft are not yet being recycled in a high-quality way. Everything that can’t be reused still requires progress from the aviation industry.’

High-quality recycling of metals and plastics from aircraft is expensive. Compared to the automotive industry, the number of aircraft available for recycling is negligible.
‘There are around 30 000 airplanes flying worldwide, and they are designed to be as light as possible. The amount of aluminium that would come from recycling all those planes is insignificant compared to the car industry.’

Cutting costs

In the Netherlands, there are approximately nine million cars and around 160 000 are scrapped each year. The constant supply of vehicles allows for profitable production lines dedicated to recycling car materials. This is not the case for aircraft, where recycling often costs more than the value of the materials produced.

‘That’s exactly why we established the Aethos Foundation,’ Van Heerden continues. ‘We want to explore what’s possible in terms of recycling the currently unused material streams. We are searching for solutions that can bring the aviation sector on board. It may not result in huge financial gains but we aim to ensure that it doesn’t incur significant extra costs either.

‘The real benefit for airlines is in their contribution to a circular economy. They are often seen as major polluters, so this is an opportunity for them to help improve the environment.’

New approach to recycling

The Dutchman hopes that aircraft owners will consider not only the most financially advantageous solution for their decommissioned planes but also the best solution for the aviation industry as a whole. He urges them to embrace recycling.
‘If Aethos can make that happen, it would make me very happy. With the establishment of the foundation and the appointment of its board, the first steps have been taken.
‘But help is certainly welcome. We could greatly benefit from people with experience in recycling materials like aluminium and carbon fibre.’

While Van Heerden may not live to see his dream fully realised, he remains tirelessly committed to creating a more sustainable future for the aviation industry.