News - AFRA - Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association

The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) presented the results of three years' successful activities at its Aircraft Recycling media day at the Air Chateauroux Air Centre in France. Eight companies around the world are now accredited by complying with AFRA’s Version 2.0 of the Best Practice Management Guide.

AFRA Executive Director Martin Fraissignes, speaking today at Chateauroux, stated: ‘We are rightly proud of our numerous achievements in such relatively little time. In a short period, we have become the global voice of the aircraft dismantling and recycling community.' AFRA’s membership has grown by 360 percent to comprise 40 members from the global aircraft recycling and disassembly community. An impressive 50% of the world’s parked fleet is stored at air centers that are members of AFRA. Members whose business is aircraft tear-down recycled 30% of the commercial aircraft that was retired in 2008 while those members whose business is metals reclamation recycled 217,000 tons of aircraft aluminum and 3,700 tons of other high-grade aircraft alloys. Members in the parts business sector processed almost 600 tons of used parts and returned them to airworthy service.

AFRA sets standards for the safe and sustainable disassembly of end-of-service aircraft – 'and these standards are of such environmental and financial value,' continues Fraissignes, 'that the industry is now adopting them voluntarily as exemplified by the steadily increasing interest in AFRA accreditation and membership.'

Version 2.0 of AFRA’s Best Management Practice (BMP) Guide, which was launched in May 2009, is increasingly viewed as the industry standard for the disassembly of aircraft engines and airframes. 'The BMP Guide aims to enhance safety and security developments throughout the dismantling and recycling supply chain,' comments Martin Fraissignes. AFRA is also helping its members maximize the financial value of recycled assets, an important advantage in these difficult times.'

Today, eight companies have successfully completed their accreditation, and several more are in the process of becoming accredited. These companies are: Air Salvage International, Bonus Tech,Evergreen Aircenter, Europe Aviation, Orange Aero, P3 Aviation, Southern California Aviation, Volvo Aero Services.

'Economic crisis or no crisis, the whole aviation industry is committed to mitigating its environmental footprint', comments Bill Carberry, AFRA deputy executive director and project manager, aircraft and composite recycling, Boeing Commercial Airplanes: “Every year, more than 400 aircraft are scrapped, and one third of these are scrapped by AFRA members. We clearly have an important role to play in aviation's effort to show greater environmental stewardship. This is a collective effort, which is why partnerships and collaborative practices are at the heart of the AFRA vision.”

Added, Carberry, “Boeing is committed to working with AFRA member companies to recycle end-of-service aircraft and to reduce manufacturing, waste, as well as improve the technologies and processes needed to return high-value aircraft materials back to manufacturing. We are working with other AFRA companies to develop new technologies to recycle materials that are currently non-recyclable, and to maximize the market value of reclaimed parts and metals. Ultimately, we aim to raise the amount of aircraft recycled material from the current level of 70 percent to 95 percent by 2016.”

As well as making a pressing case for the environmental and business logic of responsible aircraft dismantling and materials recycling, AFRA’s reputation for developing and pursuing the industry perspective on a range of aircraft end-of-service concerns and issues is growing. AFRA Executives are also in dialogue with key regulatory bodies such as the FAA and EASA, regarding further establishing its BMP Guides as industry recognized standards.

The association's activities are solely funded by its 40 worldwide members, who include original equipment manufacturers, aircraft engine and airframe dissemblers, aircraft parts recyclers, academic institutions, as well as industry leaders in the fields of aviation sustainability and environmental good practice. Membership is open to any company or institution with a business focus on the safe and environmentally responsible management of aging aircraft.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Martin Fraissignes, AFRA Executive Director
+33.2.54.60.53.53
Martin Todd, Cambre Associates, Brussels
+32.2.645.7990