North American Aerospace Industries (NAAI, Kinston, North Carolina, U.S.A.), a provider of sustainable end-to-end aircraft recycling, has merged with Aircraft Interior Recycling Association (AIRA, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom), a total aircraft interior support company.
While the news is formidable for both organizations, it also offers new opportunities for airlines, aircraft owners and OEMs to generate new revenue streams, gain savings, reduce their carbon footprints, and help address critical social needs; all of which have become more important in today's post-pandemic period.
Through its merged organizations, NAAI and AIRA will help their customers gain the maximum return on their aircraft investment by recycling interior components often neglected due to the complexities involved in identifying composite materials. With AIRA's unmatched expertise in this area, the companies will be able to help their customers capitalize on these materials by returning them to the supply chain for use in producing other products. According to Sven Daniel Koechler, PhD, President and CEO of NAAI, the revenue opportunities can be enormous, but equally important, these materials can be put to good use to help provide clothing, housing and even manufacturing job opportunities for those in need across the world.
NAAI is building one of the world's largest hangar systems in North Carolina. The three-part hangar system will house a 357,00 ft² dismantling shop; 151,800 ft² MRO facility; and 102,000 ft² paint shop for narrow- and wide-body aircraft. Its proprietary processes will enable the company to recycle multiple aircrafts simultaneously for a much faster recycling process. The NAAI facilities will also encompass an 80,800 ft² space designated for storage and offices.
The facility's construction schedule was interrupted by the pandemic and subsequent business lockdowns in the United States, however, Koechler is projecting that the facility will be operational by late 2021.
