How to Clean Aircraft

By: WashWax WashWax Click author's name for more of his/her articles

People clean their cars, trucks, bikes but whoever heard of cleaning aircrafts? Yes, you may think that airplanes never need cleaning and that they remain spotless and shine as brightly as on their first day. But the fact is an unclean aircraft is a very dangerous thing. Aircrafts are constantly subjected to air pressure, oil spillages, stains of bugs and other flying insects and birds etc. All this doesn’t just make the aircraft look dirty but also damages the paint and exterior surface of the aircraft, leads to plastic and seal degradation, unclean windows and loosening of fittings and fastenings. Good aircraft cleaning supplies are thus very essential to maintain the aircraft both from the aesthetic point of view and from a safety angle.

Airplane cleaning should never be done by pressure washers as it damages the aircraft, penetrates seals, increases paint loss and loosens adhesive bonds on the aircraft. Never use a solvent based aircraft cleaning product as it causes a lot of damage in the long run.

Specifically designed aircraft cleaning products should be used for aviation cleaning. RV cleaners which are also suitable for airplane washing can be used. If they are not suitable, they can cause corrosion and degradation of the aircraft. Airplane cleaning products do not damage electrical wires. They do not damage seals or the aircraft substrate. Waterless aircraft wash is the best way to clean the aircraft.

Once you have the required aviation cleaners, you can proceed for aviation wash. Clean the loose material and dust on the surface of the airplane. Next, dilute a small quantity of airplane cleaner according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. With this, wash all dirty areas of the aircraft including brakes and wheels, exhaust trails, oil streaks and deposits around static wicks.

Use of sponges or soft brushes used in RV cleaning can be used here to apply the solution on the aircraft. They save a lot of bending and stretching, not to mention keeping you away from the droplets of dirty water too. After you are done with this, dilute the airplane cleaner further and then use it to clean the entire framework of the aircraft. This can be done with a sponge, broom or a rag. Good airplane cleaning products require less amount of physical effort to be put into cleaning. If the product does not require this physical work, then it is too harsh for your purpose. Once the application of the airplane cleaning product is done, it is important to immediately rinse away the solution so that spots do not remain on the airplane surface. If need be, you can also use chamois leather to clean the surface to get the spotless look for the aircraft.

Aircraft waxing should be done by a suitable aircraft wax. A good aircraft wax will give that extra shine to the aircraft while at the same time it will not build up a layer on the airplane which causes marks and blemishes to occur and increase the effort required in future cleaning. Do not use products with solvents or hydrocarbons in it as they damage the plastic on the aircraft. If the product is not good for use on plastic and windows, it can leave a film on them which can obscure vision.

Invest money in good quality airplane cleaning supplies as they not only extend the life of the aircraft but consequently save the life of the passengers and pilots.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

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WashWax is author of this article on RV Cleaning. Find more information about RV Washing here.