1. Airframe Dismantling Services
Company: AerCap Materials
Product: AerCap broke into the teardown business in late 2021 by acquiring GE Capital Aviation Services, which included a parts business active in aircraft teardowns and part-outs. The new subsidiary, AerCap Materials, provides airframe dismantling services for a wide range of commercial and business aircraft. It dismantles aircraft from its facility at Greenwood-Leflore County Airport in Mississippi and recently opened a new distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee. AerCap Materials has dismantled more than 300 aircraft and stocks more than 15,000 unique parts.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/aercap-materials
2. Upcycling Aircraft
Company: Ecube
Product: Ecube provides aircraft disassembly, demolition and recycling services in Castellon, Spain, and at its base in St. Athan, Wales. It opened its first U.S. teardown facility in October 2022 at Coolidge Municipal Airport, about midway between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. Ecube says the expansion to the U.S. enables it to cover almost 90% of the global aircraft market. In 2022, Ecube appointed a new CEO and a new vice president of sustainability and business development. As part of its sustainability commitment, it offers parted-out aircraft sections and components for upcycling in such areas as training, education and entertainment.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/ecube
3. Growing Engine Disassembly
Company: EirTrade Aviation
Product: EirTrade Aviation offers aircraft disassembly and recycling services for all commercial widebody, narrowbody, regional and private aircraft types from its teardown facility at Ireland West Airport. It added capability at its Dublin headquarters for on-site engine disassembly last year. While the facility focuses on CFM International engines, EirTrade is looking to expand capabilities to cover other engine platforms. EirTrade also offers a suite of integrated services, including maintenance, parking and storage and parts trading, which it says helps to maximize asset value for customers.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/eirtrade
4. Spanish Teardown Specialist
Company: Jet Aircraft Services
Product: Jet Aircraft Services (JAS) is an independent MRO with a teardown center at Ciudad Real Airport, near Madrid, which it says is a convenient hub for Europe and Africa. The company also offers aircraft storage and MRO services so aircraft can be maintained before disassembly. JAS has recycled more than 100 aircraft over the past five years, specializing in Airbus A330s and A340s, Boeing 737s and 757s and MD-80s. It tore down its first Boeing 777 in late 2022, just dismantled its 15th A340 and recently started a program to dismantle three Boeing 717s. JAS will soon begin a new program to tear down eight A330s for full recycling.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/jet-aircraft-services
5. Trent 700 Expertise
Company: Orange Aero
Product: Based in England, Orange Aero is a supplier of high-usage gas turbine engine components that also processes end-of-life aircraft engines to extract maximum value. Orange Aero focuses on dismantling Rolls-Royce engines, specializing in the Trent 700. It says this engine type is typically dominated by OEM support, so Orange Aero provides an independent option for operators. It subcontracts its engine dismantling work to trusted shops and provides overhauled components for sale, including accessory units, quick engine-change items, intake cowls, thrust reversers and common nozzles.
marketplace.aviationweek.com/company/orange-aero-ltd
6. Airbus Recycling Pro
Company: Vallair
Product: As a founding member of the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association, Vallair specializes in teardown and recycling services for Airbus A320, A321 and A330-300 aircraft. It provides teardowns from its main facility in Chateauroux and its narrowbody facility in Montpellier, France. Vallair says it offers a “one-stop shop” service for teardowns that includes repair capabilities, logistics, procurement and sales. It is currently tearing down two A320s formerly operated by Red Wings Airlines and is scheduled to tear down another two A320-family aircraft as well as two A330-300s this year.
