TARMAC Aerosave, a specialist in aircraft and engine lifecycle management, and ATR have strengthened their partnership to recycle the manufacturer’s regional aircraft.
Three ATRs were recycled in 2023, and four more are planned in 2024. These projects will provide valuable spare parts and contribute to the circular economy.
Responding to the spare parts challenge
On Global Recycling Day, TARMAC Aerosave and ATR assess their partnership with a view to achieve constant improvement in dismantling and recycling ATR aircraft at the end of their life-cycle.
After three projects successfully carried out in 2023, the recovery rate for ATR aircraft (recycling and reuse of parts) has reached 85.5%. The agreement signed between both parties also paves the way to identify new recycling processes in order to increase this recovery rate.
Under this partnership, up to 12 aircraft will be recycled over the coming years.
All parts that can be reused on the second-hand market are inspected, repaired and certified under EASA airworthiness standards, by authorized repair stations, before being integrated into the ATR spare parts inventory. Unserviceable parts are torn down for the recycling of their raw materials.
Consistent with the initial strategic vision
In 2017, ATR was one of the first manufacturers to launch a decommissioning project, with a view to control all phases of the aircraft life-cycle: from development to production, including operation support and recycling. This initiative has enabled ATR to promote the circular economy through the creation of its own shop of recertified spare parts from dismantled aircraft.
Stefano Marazzani, ATR’s SVP Customer Support and Services, added: “In the context of a global parts shortage, our collaboration with TARMAC Aerosave allows us to tackle two great challenges at once: we further reduce our environmental footprint whilst offering our customers a ready supply of cost-effective and high-quality spare parts. It’s a win-win solution for all stakeholders: more parts with fewer resources. This strategic approach is proving to be the most sustainable, both for our planet and our business.”
Alexandre Brun, President of TARMAC Aerosave, shares this vision: “TARMAC Aerosave has always developed in consultation with manufacturers to improve its maintenance, storage and recycling processes. We are proud to provide a solution to the spare parts supply crisis, and to enable ATR to offer its customers a sustainable lifecycle for their fleet.”
About TARMAC Aerosave
Set up in 2007 in Tarbes (France), in 2013 in Teruel (Spain) and in 2017 in Toulouse-Francazal (France), TARMAC Aerosave offers the largest aircraft and engine storage capacity in Europe, backed by expertise in maintenance, transition and recycling. The three sites can accommodate more than 280 aircraft, and the maintenance activity covers the main commercial platforms (Airbus, Boeing, ATR). A dedicated engine workshop also handles the storage, transition, dismantling and maintenance of CFM56 and LEAP engines. TARMAC Aerosave continues to develop advanced dismantling and recycling techniques, recognised by ISO 14001 certification, and achieves a recovery rate of over 90%. TARMAC Aerosave also holds ISO 9001, EN 9110 and EN 9120 certifications, as well as EASA/FAA Part 145 and EASA Part 147 approvals. With a strong shareholder base (Airbus, Safran Aircraft Engines, Suez), TARMAC Aerosave has received over 1,540 aircraft to date, re-delivered 1,110 and dismantled 385 aircraft and 215 engines.
About ATR
ATR is the world’s leading manufacturer of regional aircraft. Its ATR 42 and 72 are the world’s best-selling aircraft with less than 90 seats. The mission of the company’s employees is to bring people together around the world and to contribute to the development of all, in a responsible manner. Thanks to the company’s continuous innovation and the efficiency of its turboprop engines, ATRs open an average of 130 new routes every year, consume 45% less fuel and emit 45% less CO2 than regional jets of a similar size. ATRs have been chosen by some 200 airlines, which operate them from more than 100 countries around the world. ATR is a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo.
Featured image credited to TARMAC Aerosave
