Quebec could become a North American leader in aircraft recovery

By Guillaume Valois
LL712 and DL11 Communicator

Montreal – In response to Airbus’ statement to accelerate aircraft recycling by creating partnerships in different regions of the world, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), calls on our governments and stakeholders in Quebec’s aerospace ecosystem to mobilize to make Quebec a North American leader in this area.

This is the kind of project that could have positive impacts at many levels,” says Michel Richer, Quebec Coordinator of the IAMAW. In addition to its environmental impact, it would help strengthen our aerospace ecosystem and retain workers in industry, would provide new training and research tools and could increase the level of cooperation of our industrial structure.”

Airbus could partner with companies in Quebec’s aerospace ecosystem, such as Aerocycle and Dynajet aviation solution, which are the only companies specializing in aircraft recycling in Canada, to lay the foundations for a north-east American aircraft recycling.

“We want to bring people together around this project because we believe there is an opportunity,” says Richer. “With the largest aircraft “cemeteries” in its territory, the North American market is currently the largest in the world and is underexploited. Our governments must engage in discussions with Airbus to propose that they participate in the creation of a partnership for the recovery of aircraft in Quebec. This is the kind of project we need to invest in to make our aerospace industry more resilient and make our transition to a green economy.”

The impact of the pandemic on commercial aviation and rising aviation fuel prices will push many airlines to get rid of their most expensive aircraft to keep them in service. According to the forecasts of the specialized firm Cirium, there will be more than 21,600 commercial aircraft permanently retired by 2039. On the Airbus side, the number of aircraft to be recycled is estimated at 14,000 over the next 20 years, or the equivalent of 700 aircraft per year.

Some 30 companies are dedicated to aircraft recycling worldwide. In addition to recycling, these companies can also carry out the storage, maintenance and repair of an aircraft and its components.

In 2007, a partnership between Airbus, Safran Aircraft Engines and the Suez Group led to the establishment of Tarmac Aerosave.

The unsafe storage of aircraft poses a growing environmental hazard that inevitably leads to contamination of the soil by the device’s fluids and the toxic metals of its components, such as lead, chromium and cadmium.

Last week we learned that a partnership between the Finnish recycling company Kuusakoski and Finnair managed to recycle more than 99% of an Airbus A319.