EMIRATES' FIRST retired A380 is to be fully repurposed in a pioneering initiative to show what's possible when it comes to recycling. The Gulf carrier has signed a contract with UAE-based Falcon Aircraft Recycling which will see A6-EDA recycled and upcycled entirely in the UAE, "dramatically reducing the environmental impact of the deconstruction process and drastically reducing landfill waste", Emirates said. Profitable components of retired commercial aircraft are recovered by salvage specialists, but some parts and materials go into landfill or sit idle indefinitely, with items such as composites and fire-retardant fabrics difficult to dispose or recycle. Andrew Tonks, director of Falcon Aircraft Recycling, said: "Approximately 190 tonnes of various metals, plastics, carbon fibre composites and other materials will be removed from the A380 and passed on for recycling or repurposing via our upcycling programme."
展开▼
