EirTrade Aviation’s airframe and engine disassembly facility in Knock, Ireland, has received KPI-Diamond certification from the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA), recognising its compliance with the association’s best-management-practice standards.
The certification comes as the company reports an increase in aircraft and engines arriving at the facility for redelivery following lease expiry and subsequent teardown. The expansion is accompanied by recruitment and training initiatives aimed at strengthening technical expertise and maintaining consistent operating standards.
For EirTrade, the facility brings together several stages of the aircraft lifecycle, including disassembly, line maintenance, storage and lease-transition services. The combination is intended to support aircraft owners, lessors and operators managing assets at the end of a lease or preparing them for their next phase of use.
AFRA certification strengthens disassembly and asset monitoring
The KPI-Diamond accreditation recognises the application of AFRA’s best-management practices, with particular emphasis on the quality and consistency of asset-level data collection and monitoring.
Steven Trowell, Senior Vice President – Maintenance & Disassembly at EirTrade Aviation, said that recognised approvals and certifications are important in maintaining customer confidence across the aviation sector.
“At the Diamond standard, data is gathered for each asset, so it doesn’t matter if it is one engine or twenty aircraft; the level of detail and monitoring is the same. It’s a team effort”, highlighted Trowell.
The certification applies to the facility’s disassembly activities, where accurate records and consistent processes are important for tracking aircraft and engine assets and supporting the recovery of serviceable components and materials.
Workforce development supports growing maintenance activity
EirTrade’s Knock operation combines aircraft and engine teardown with Part-145 line maintenance services. The company says the increase in aircraft and engine activity has created a need to expand its workforce and develop the technical skills required to manage the work.
Trowell is responsible for building the facility’s technical team and supporting training and qualifications to improve operational efficiency and turnaround times.
“As the only teardown operation in Ireland, we have a huge responsibility to reassure our customers, in the airline, lessor and Used Serviceable Material (USM) community, that we meet the highest standards in Europe. We’re running this established capability alongside our Part-145 line maintenance services, so Knock is fast becoming an aviation hub of interest to technicians and maintenance engineers,” Trowell added.
Trowell further states, “Our focus on sustainability and the circular economy through aircraft disassembly supports the recovery, reuse and recycling of valuable aircraft components and materials, contributing to a more resource-efficient aviation industry.”
The combination of disassembly and line maintenance also supports the recovery and reuse of components, linking end-of-life aircraft processing with the wider used serviceable material (USM) market.
Ireland West Airport Knock positions for further aviation investment
Ireland West Airport Knock’s location on Ireland’s western seaboard offers access for aircraft movements between Europe and North America and provides a base within the European Union for aircraft redelivery and related services.
The airport’s government-backed Strategic Development Zone includes provision for 44,000 square metres of aviation-related development, covering aircraft maintenance, repair and associated services. Its existing infrastructure includes a 2,511-metre runway and dedicated aviation development land.
A planned €35 million-plus infrastructure programme for 2026–2028, alongside government-supported airport upgrades, is expected to support the airport’s longer-term development.
For EirTrade, the airport’s infrastructure and location provide a platform for expanding services to aircraft owners, leasing companies and operators across the aircraft lifecycle.
Trowell concluded, “The combination of aircraft disassembly, line maintenance, storage and lease transition services that EirTrade offer deliver opportunities for operational efficiencies and diversified revenue. We believe that our expansion will attract further aviation investment, create highly skilled employment and support the development of a specialist aerospace cluster in the west of Ireland.”
