TARMAC Aerosave and ATR strengthen partnership for regional aircraft recycling

TARMAC Aerosave and ATR have strengthened their partnership to recycle 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. 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 SVP Customer Support and Services, commented: "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, said: "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."

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.