From the shell to the seats to the wheels, about 80 percent of a plane can be reused, according to Boeing. It may take about a month to dismantle an aircraft. Mechanics break down engines, controls, pumps, batteries, wings, the fuselage, and other parts, sending many intact to dealers of used aircraft parts.
Scrap brokers buy metals, metal alloys, plastics, and composite materials that are further separated and shredded. Items containing toxic chemicals, such as varnishes or hydraulic fluids, must be disposed of separately.
This DC10 is shown in a Mojave Desert boneyard.
More ZDNet Photo Galleries
Meet Doc
-
-
Here to help you with your Document Management Needs
- Check out Doc’s Blog on ZDNet
- Help your company, help the earth I want to share with you the Environmental Defense Fund Paper Calculator, which allows you to gauge your organization's environmental impact.
- Which is Greener: Paper or Digital? The Answer May Surprise You Anything we can do to reduce paper consumption is good. But what about the impact of digital waste?
-
Produced by
ZDNet and -
