pyracantha air layer

I have four big pyracantha (4-6" diameter) that have been grown in clay/rocky soil for probably about 20 years. My wife wants them removed. My options are rip out with tractor, pick axe them out, or air layer them at ground level. Does anyone have any opinions on this species and if air layering may work? Im afraid air layering may look unnatural with lots of tiny roots suddenly coming off of a giant trunk with no basal flare.
thanks

Air layering is fairly easy with these -- but that won't get rid of the plants. They'll sprout back . . . profusely.

Why airlayer? If you dig them out, you can then pot or box them up and reduce the rootball in a couple of years.

thank you,
do you know if these transplant pretty easily like a trident in the spring?

I dug several pyracanthas, when rebuilding some gardens. They can easily survive quite heavy root pruning. I wanted to untagle the roots, which was possible just with saw and heavy shears. I had just one problem, I´ve done just one fault - with the very first one - I threw it, it seemed it didn´t want to start to grow . Pyracanthas sometimes go in leaf late, sometimes even later :-), especially after heavy root pruning