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Visit the aircraft graveyard where 2.000 decommissioned planes wait to be recycled; pilot takes exclusive tour of the site
The aircraft graveyard is a restricted and mysterious place where around 2.000 retired planes rest in the middle of the desert, waiting to be recycled. These aviation giants, which once soared through the skies, now lie decommissioned and surrounded by nature, where 85% of its weight can still be reused.
What is the aircraft graveyard?
This site is run by BAS Part Sales, a company that specializes in aircraft recycling. Clinton McJenkin, the owner of the lot, explains that the aircraft are carefully disassembled, and valuable parts are recovered for reuse.
Kate Broug, a content creator and FAA-licensed pilot, visited the site to show her followers where these planes are headed.
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The local vegetation has taken over many of these aircraft, transforming them into part of the landscape. In fact, most of the planes there were decommissioned after decades of use, and many still have interesting stories to tell.
Why Are Aircraft Recycled?
The decision to recycle aircraft is largely a response to the growing need for sustainability in the aviation industry. Recycling these structures helps reduce landfills and save raw materials. As a result, the market for recycled aircraft parts is currently worth around US$2 billion.
Furthermore, recycled materials represent an economically and environmentally responsible alternative, as they allow the reuse of resources in new aircraft, reducing the need to extract and process new materials.
How Do Aircraft Reach This Final Destination?
Not all aircraft end up in the graveyard simply because they’ve reached the end of their useful life. Many end up there due to human error, McJenkin reports. A staggering 53 percent of aviation accidents are attributed to pilot error, often related to poor fuel management.
Another interesting point is the presence of historic planes, such as the famous Lockheed Jetstar, used in the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger. The aircraft, which transported agent 007 on his adventures, is now among other aviation relics, a testament to the stories that planes carry.
The Importance of the Recycled Aircraft Parts Market
With the advancement of sustainability policies, the market for recycled parts is growing. This process allows aeronautical materials to remain in circulation, promoting a cycle of continuous use, which benefits both companies and the environment.
McJenkin and Broug emphasize the importance of keeping these historic planes in good condition, encouraging aviation enthusiasts to preserve their heritage. In addition to spare parts, some of these aircraft are transformed into tourist attractions, such as themed Airbnbs, and are kept alive for public viewing.
Conclusion
The aircraft graveyard is more than just a storage area for obsolete aircraft. It is a center for sustainability and preservation of aviation history. Here, 2.000 aircraft await their next destination, whether as new aircraft or as memorabilia for collectors. This practice represents an example of how aviation can adapt to new environmental demands, promoting the recycling and reuse of resources to ensure a more sustainable future for the industry.
What is the location?