Jake Wills-Keating, founder and managing director of Venture Solution, shares thoughts on how sustainability is shaping the future of aircraft MRO.

MRO has always been essential to aviation, keeping aircraft safe and efficient. But as the industry pushes toward net-zero, MRO activity and providers must evolve – not just supporting sustainability but actively driving it.

Traditionally, MRO reflects the ethos of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’. By extending the life of aircraft and components, it naturally reduces waste. But with more aircraft retiring and environmental expectations rising, this isn’t enough. The industry must move faster.

The opportunity is clear. Hundreds of aircraft reach end-of-life each year. With smart recycling, reuse and upcycling, MRO can cut emissions, avoid landfill waste and reduce the need for resource‑heavy manufacturing.

At Venture Solution, sustainability is built into our operations. Our upcycling programmes maximise the reuse of airframes and components, turning retired aircraft into valuable assets.

Through parts recovery, recycling and creative repurposing, we help keep materials in use and support the circular economy the industry needs.

We’ve been directly involved in projects where aircraft, once destined for landfill, have been repurposed for aviation training simulators and innovative architectural applications – giving materials a second life while avoiding unnecessary waste.

We approach each dismantling project with environmental responsibility as a core consideration. It’s about more than meeting standards – it’s about pushing them forward.

As part of this effort, we’re implementing carbon footprint tracking for our remote teardown operations. By measuring the environmental impact of travel, logistics and on-site activities, we aim to identify opportunities for carbon offsetting and smarter resource use across our field operations.

Looking ahead, the future of MRO will be shaped by smarter logistics and cleaner processes. Venture Solution’s integrated software platform plays a key role in this shift. By streamlining the planning and coordination of remote teardowns, it reduces the need for multiple site visits, cuts redundant travel and makes better use of local resources. The result is a leaner, less labourintensive operation with fewer emissions from logistics and personnel movement.

To support this evolution, we’re developing systems that track component histories and material flows in greater detail. With advanced analytics, we are enhancing resource optimisation across the board.

As the industry evolves, meaningful progress will depend on innovation, targeted investment and collaboration.

This feature was first published in MRO Management – May/June 2025. To read the magazine in full, click here.