Corporate Aircraft

**JetA** · 08-03-2015, 09:18 AM

I am the Line Service Supervisor for a corporate aviation fleet. We recently took delivery of a new aircraft. Having a new aircraft in the hangar really shows the poor condition of the paint on our other aircraft. The older aircraft are around five years old. They have never been polished or waxed. I recently purchased Flex DA polishers. I was wondering what clay, compounds, polishes, waxes would be recommended for use on Gulfstream aircraft.

**Ccrew** · 08-03-2015, 09:31 AM

Considering all the FAA regulations regarding everything from how to paint to corrosion potential, etc I'd check with what the plane manufacturer recommends before a bunch of polishing nerds on the internet. Just saying. I'm thinking on the polishing part the last thing I want to be in is a plane that has abrasives in the panel joints

**Setec Astronomy** · 08-03-2015, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by Ccrew

Considering all the FAA regulations regarding everything from how to paint to corrosion potential, etc I'd check with what the plane manufacturer recommends before a bunch of polishing nerds on the internet. Just saying.

We actually have quite a number of pro members who work on aircraft, not sure they should be characterized as "polishing nerds".

Citation CJ3 Jet Detail

**Ccrew** · 08-03-2015, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

We actually have quite a number of pro members who work on aircraft, not sure they should be characterized as "polishing nerds".

Citation CJ3 Jet Detail

Yes, and of course their opinion would be of more merit than the manufacturer? I think not. I would be remiss to say ANY recommendation off of some internet forum would carry less weight than a manufacturer, especially where Federal regulations may be in play. And who's to say that I couldn't take pictures of a dirty plane and claim it as detailed by me? Because it's on the internet does not make it true.

Fyi, "Polishing Nerd" was not meant in a derogatory sense.

**Setec Astronomy** · 08-03-2015, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by Ccrew

Yes, and of course their opinion would be of more merit than the manufacturer? I think not. I would be remiss to say ANY recommendation off of some internet forum would carry less weight than a manufacturer, especially where Federal regulations may be in play. And who's to say that I couldn't take pictures of a dirty plane and claim it as detailed by me? Because it's on the internet does not make it true.

Wow, I guess the whole premise of this forum must be stupid, all the members should just go to the glove compartment of their vehicle and look at what the mfr. says about car care.

I also think you are overthinking/overstating the FAA's involvement in how operators clean and maintain their aircraft.

As far as that last comment, I don't know what to say, I think you just insulted Anthony (whose thread I linked), as well as detailers like Jose Fernandez ( WOW! An amazing Mustang with over 1400 horsepower! ) and Bates Detailing ( Aircraft Detailing Video - Bates Detailing - Nashville TN )

**Ccrew** · 08-03-2015, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

I also think you are overthinking/overstating the FAA's involvement in how operators clean and maintain their aircraft.

I don't.

"In addition, a typical program may also include a more in depth inspection of the exterior of a plane every 12-17 months to detect corrosion and cracks that are not visible to the naked eye using special technology. For this reason, many of the aircraft maintenance products used to repair, clean or polish an aircraft must be FAA-approved or certified for airline use"

**Setec Astronomy** · 08-03-2015, 10:45 AM

Ok, where's the list of approved products?

PS The FAA must be doing a pretty bad job of enforcing or training for this kind of thing if the OP, who is a "Line Service Supervisor for a corporate aviation fleet" is here asking the question instead of going to the aircraft mfr. or simply going to the FAA's approved list of products to "repair, clean, or polish".

We had this little thing that started 35 years ago...it's called "deregulation". But even back in the regulated days there were no "polish police" roaming around hangars or ramps.

**Ccrew** · 08-03-2015, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

Ok, where's the list of approved products?

Don't know and didn't bother to look. Here's a guess. Call the manufacturer of the plane because they know what it's made of and what it's painted with. Which was my recommendation now wasn't it?. But nooooooooo

**Setec Astronomy** · 08-03-2015, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Ccrew

Don't know and didn't bother to look. Here's a guess. Call the manufacturer of the plane because they know what it's made of and what it's painted with. Which was my recommendation now wasn't it?. But nooooooooo

Why aren't you telling every poster to do the same thing with their automobile? When an aircraft leaves the factory it is rarely maintained by the factory. Just like an automobile, an aircraft departs into a world where it is serviced and maintained by a large aftermarket only loosely supervised by the manufacturer and regulatory agencies.

If you think differently, then you probably also think that taking knitting needles away from old ladies makes air travel safer.

**Flash Gordon** · 08-03-2015, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by JetA

I am the Line Service Supervisor for a corporate aviation fleet. We recently took delivery of a new aircraft. Having a new aircraft in the hangar really shows the poor condition of the paint on our other aircraft. The older aircraft are around five years old. They have never been polished or waxed. I recently purchased Flex DA polishers. I was wondering what clay, compounds, polishes, waxes would be recommended for use on Gulfstream aircraft.

I would skip the clay and go with a Speedy Prep towel

Compound: Meguiars M100

Polish: Meguiars M205

Wax: Collinite 845 Insulator Wax

Probably should get a rotary polisher (wool pad) for the really rough ones