Historically, the civil aviation industry has doubled their global fleet size every 20 years, and they are on track to do so again. But the limited availability and high cost of raw materials needed for aircraft is putting pressure on the industry to ensure they can keep pace with this schedule for decades to come.
To do so, aircraft manufacturers are implementing extended lifecycle programs and investing in efforts to recycle aircraft materials and components. Upgrades and design enhancements are helping extend the life of older aircraft, and modern designs are intended to make it easier to recycle aircraft components.
These efforts are driven by dwindling raw material supply and access, but also by industry regulations and corporate sustainability goals that are pushing the industry towards net-zero emissions. Some of these initiatives include stricter emission standards, carbon offset mandates, greater transparency of corporations' ESG-related performance, and government funding for clean aviation technology.
In order to effectively implement these initiatives and achieve sustainability goals, aircraft manufacturers are turning to advanced technologies. Solutions like digital twins, predictive maintenance, and artificial intelligence allow companies to identify recycling opportunities in aircraft manufacturing and help extend the lifecycle of components.