Boeing is expanding its USM capacity with a new Aircraft Recycling Program and enhancing BGS’ core business with an innovative supply chain solution. (© Boeing photo)

Boeing is launching an Aircraft Recycling Program, offering an innovative solution to address supply-chain constraints while growing Boeing Global Services’ core business.

The program is expected to boost the company’s Used Serviceable Materials (USM) capacity. USM are aircraft parts or components that have been previously installed or used but have been inspected, tested and determined to meet all applicable airworthiness requirements so they are eligible for reinstallation on an aircraft.

Why it matters: This new offering from the BGS Parts & Distribution team supports the responsible retirement of aging fleets, while also ensuring airlines have access to high-quality components through a robust global distribution network.

Fun fact: Once dismantled, an airplane can provide up to 6,000 recertified parts.

How it works: Boeing will collaborate with licensed dismantling companies, beginning with ecube, to ensure the dismantling process meets the highest environmental standards, maximizes material recovery and minimizes waste.

• Airlines will consign retired aircraft to Boeing to oversee the entire teardown process and conduct a thorough assessment to identify components and materials for recovery.
• The aircraft are then transported to a facility for dismantling.
• Recovered parts undergo rigorous inspection, repair and recertification before being made available through Boeing’s global distribution network.

Catch up quick: For more than 20 years, Boeing has been innovating ways to prevent landfill waste and retain high-value components in the aerospace value chain or for use in other industries. 

• In 2006, Boeing helped found the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) to set best practices of the safe and sustainable disassembly of commercial airplanes, engines and recycling assets. 
• In 2023, the company pledged to work exclusively with AFRA-accredited organizations to ensure Boeing-owned fleet are dismantled and recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. 

What they're saying: 

• “By enhancing our USM capacity, we are not only providing airlines with a reliable source of parts but also maximizing the value of their retired fleets,” said William Ampofo, vice president of Boeing Parts & Distribution and Supply Chain. “We are evolving to meet customer needs, as they seek to navigate the complexities of supply chain disruptions while maintaining operational integrity.”
• “As we look to the future, it is clear that effective lifecycle management is not merely an operational necessity but a strategic imperative for the aviation industry,” said Ryan Faucett, Boeing’s vice president for environmental sustainability. “With material recovery rates of up to 90% for metallic airframes, this offering can reduce waste to landfill, provide relief to supply chain constraints, and provide a return on investment for our customers.”

The big picture: By transforming retired airplanes into essential spare parts, this program generates revenue for airlines while promoting material reuse and waste reduction, and helps support responsible and resilient growth in the aviation industry.