It’s an everyday process: Aircraft recyclers buy end-of-life aircraft to dismantle them and sell the components for a profit as replacement parts. Russian airlines caused a stir when they were forced to scrap some of their nearly new planes in 2022 due to Western sanctions. A fairly new Airbus A350 was reportedly among the victims.
Essentially, there is no clear rule regarding the age at which an aircraft should be dismantled. It depends on the demand for the type, the market value of the parts and the condition of the item. The current case from the US is causing a stir right now. On March 29, two planes took off from Miami to Pinal Airport in Arizona, one of the most famous airline cemeteries in the world. Two aircraft previously used at Gol Linhas Aéreas air base in Brazil have been dismantled there, View from the Wing reports.
Both aircraft will not be delivered until 2025.
Particularly explosive: two Boeing 737 Max 8s with registration numbers PS-GRM and PS-GRN were brand new. Only last year, “Gol” received them fresh from the factory, “PS-GRM” – on September 17, and the second “Boeing 737 Max” – on November 11. Less than five months later, in early February, the airline removed two aircraft from scheduled flights. Aero.in reported on February 9 that both aircraft were spotted during test flights at Belo Horizonte airport, but without the Gol logos.
The airline reportedly returned two Boeing 737 Max 8s to their lessor because they were often not ready for use. The reason is said to be chronic problems that have already arisen at the plant: both difficulties with the CFM Leap 1B engines and problems with the center of gravity. The result was longer maintenance times and higher operating costs. The lessor reportedly sold the aircraft to a recycler.
First 737 Max retired
According to research by aeroTELEGRAPH, this must be Aer Fin, a British parts retailer. Aer Fin advertises on its website that it gives interested parties access to high-quality materials on the 737 Max before they actually need it.
Aer Fin operates from Pinal Airpark itself through a partner company; The British company’s actual warehouse is located in Miami. Two 737 Max flew this route in March, first to Miami and then to Arizona. These are the first known 737 Max to be retired.
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