Managed aircraft teardown
Managed aircraft teardown, from assessment to aftermarket.
A retired airframe is an inventory of parts with paperwork attached. We plan the disassembly, control the records, and place the recovered material.
Overview
End-of-life aircraft, handled as a programme.
A teardown succeeds or fails on planning. Which components carry demand, what certification route they take, where they are stored and how quickly they reach buyers all determine what the airframe actually returns.
Thameside runs teardown programmes end to end: technical assessment of the aircraft and its engines, a disassembly plan built around recoverable value, supervised removal, and records handling through every stage.
Recovered material then feeds the same inventory our customers buy from — which is why we care about the documentation as much as the parts.
Programme phases
Four phases, one accountable team.
- 01
Assessment
Airframe, engines and records reviewed to establish condition, life remaining and recoverable value.
- 02
Planning
A disassembly plan sequenced around demand, certification route, storage and logistics.
- 03
Disassembly
Supervised removal of engines, rotables and components, with records captured as parts come off.
- 04
Recovery
Certification, controlled storage and sale of recovered material into the aftermarket.
Detail
What a managed programme covers.
Whether we purchase the airframe outright or run the programme on your behalf, the same disciplines apply.
- Technical assessment of airframe, engines and APU
- Disassembly plan built around recoverable value
- Supervised component removal with records captured at source
- Certification handling and trace back to the airframe
- Controlled storage of recovered material in the UK
- Sale into the aftermarket through our existing customer base
FAQ
Common questions
- What does a managed teardown include?
- Assessment of the airframe and engines, planning of the disassembly, supervised removal of components, records and certification handling, storage of recovered material, and its sale into the aftermarket.
- How long does a teardown take?
- Timescales depend on aircraft type, location, the number of components being recovered and the certification route. Programme length is agreed with you at the planning stage.
- Who handles the paperwork for recovered parts?
- We manage records and certification through the programme, so components are released with the documentation the aftermarket expects — release certificates and trace back to the airframe.
- Can you handle an aircraft outside the UK?
- Yes. Aircraft are assessed wherever they sit, and logistics for recovered material are arranged from that location.
- Do you buy the aircraft, or run the teardown on our behalf?
- Both are possible. We purchase complete airframes outright, and we also manage teardown programmes for owners who want to retain the recovered value.
Next step
Retiring an aircraft?
Tell us the type, location and engine status. We will set out whether an outright purchase or a managed teardown returns more.
- ISO 9001 accredited
- Trading since 1963
- Customers in 40 countries
- EASA Form 1 / FAA 8130-3