Aircraft Teardown
AIRLINED is specialized in aircraft disassembly and dismantling. The focus of our research and development is to minimize environmental impact. We take the utmost care to deal hazardous materials in an environmentally safe way.
Every aircraft produces waste during its production, useful lifetime and at its end-of-life. Some, if not all of the waste streams can still have value if recycled properly. The high-tech and complex nature of an aircraft means that the waste streams will contain intricate materials and material mixes. This challenges us to find out the best recycling technology or market for the valuable waste streams.
The aircraft that is scheduled for teardown will fly to its final destination, where it will undergo the teardown process. AIRLINED must request for a landing slot (and parking spot) from the airport authority prior to the teardown. Before any disassembly begins, all engine inlets, exhausts, ports and the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) must be covered. Any logos and identifiable markings on the livery are to be painted over. The removal of parts is in accordance with the standard practices, which meets the needs of the aircraft owner or operator. This includes cleaning and packaging the parts along with a signed removal parts tag for each part. Each part must be accounted for in an inventory list. Other stages included in the general workscope for disassembly include the removal of the engines and APU, disassembly and disposal of the hull, and the disposal of all residual hydraulic fluids, fuel and hazardous materials. Apart from the general disassembly scope mentioned above, there are many more components left to be disassembled. In fact, a typical airliner can be dismantled into 1,500 to 2,000 parts!
The parts that are easily accessible are the first to be removed – such as the avionics (flight deck and avionics bay) and safety equipment (slides, rafts, lights). Next are the control surfaces. The flaps are removed, which then enable the removal of the hydraulic systems. The removal of these easily accessible components, such as the air conditioning system and brake system, allows progress to be made to remove smaller components within. Some other items to consider are the flight data recorder, electrical devices, probes and tubes, antennas, and transmitters. Then there are also components in the cockpit, such as gauges and control panels, control yokes, crew seats and cockpit door. And the list goes on! When all line-replaceable units (LRUs) are removed, the landing gears and wheels are one of the last few components to be removed. Eventually, all removed parts are harvested from the airframe. Depending on the aircraft size and type, the teardown process can take between 3 to 5 weeks to complete. However, what many people aren’t aware about is that there is more than just the physical teardown process. The service provider must identify that the aircraft’s component assets meet the needs of the aftermarket component marketplace. And in doing so, package the parts in accordance with the client’s requirements. Removed parts must be re-certified before being released into the marketplace. And the tedious yet value-creating process of the teardown is now complete. A typical airliner can be dismantled into 1,500 to 2,000 parts, including the engines, landing gear, and other components.
The stages of an aircraft teardown process include:
- Draining service fluids, such as fuel and water
- Dismantling liquid parts from the wings, empennage and fuselage
- Disconnecting landing gear
- Removing the cabin
- Packing removed parts for dispatch to repair shops for recertification
- Recycling the remaining body
Regardless of location our licensed and A&P mechanics professionally remove, clean, inspect, identify, record, and package our clients’ materials in accordance with manufacturer guidelines. AIRLINED offers fixed-base dismantling for those aircraft that can be flown to our facility. AIRLINED can also provide customized mobile dismantle solutions that can save money or service an immobile aircraft.
Send us an e-mail, lets set a meeting to asses your needs, our team will work across the sector to achieve enduring results, become #Airlined.
