Proposed Framework for End-of-life Aircraft Recycling

The recycling of aircraft materials has come into greater focus in recent years, due in large part to the increase in the number of aircraft which are reaching the end of their working life. Aircraft manufacturers estimate that up to 44 percent of the global fleet will reach end-of- life in the next two decades, amounting to more than 13,000 commercial, military and private aircraft. One of the factors that is impeding sustainable end-of-life is the deficiency of knowledge and lack of total management for the aircraft life cycle from cradle to grave. Therefore, developing a conceptual framework for managing the end-of-life aircraft process is essential to achieving true sustainability and then closing the loop. Our review gives an overview of related research and positions end-of-life aircraft as a key strategy for the future. By merging sustainable thinking into traditional end-of-life aircraft process, this review provides a framework for ongoing research, as well as encourages research collaborations among the various communities interested in end-of-life aircraft.