Services

Aircraft exterior detailing

The exterior finish on an airframe is engineered thin, because weight is a design constraint. There is far less material to work with than on a car, and what comes off does not come back without a repaint. Everything we do outside is built around that fact.

Detail

Dry wash and wet wash

A dry wash lifts soil with a chemical and a controlled wipe, no free water. It is the standard method in hangars and at fields with wash rack restrictions, and on a lightly soiled aircraft it produces a better result with less risk. A wet wash uses water and is right when the soil load, the facility and the aircraft all allow for it. Neither one is universally correct, and a company that only offers one is telling you about their equipment rather than your aircraft.

Belly and exhaust soil

Exhaust staining and belly soil are the two things that make an otherwise clean aircraft look neglected, and they are also where the most aggressive chemistry gets used by people in a hurry. Removing them is a question of dwell time and the right product, not pressure.

Gear and gear wells

Landing gear and gear bays collect hydraulic residue, brake dust and grime, and they are full of components that do not tolerate the chemistry used on paint. Gear well work is done deliberately, with attention to what is behind every surface being cleaned.

What we do not do

We do not use pressure as a substitute for method, we do not direct water where it does not belong, and we do not correct a finish that does not have the material to give.

Common questions

Answers before you ask

What is the difference between a dry wash and a wet wash?

A dry wash uses a chemical and a controlled wipe to lift soil without free water, which is why it is the standard method in hangars and at fields with wash rack restrictions. A wet wash uses water and is appropriate when the soil load, the facility and the aircraft all allow for it. Neither is universally correct.

How often should an aircraft be washed?

It depends on where it is based, what it flies through and what the finish is. Coastal salt air, industrial fallout and de-ice season all shorten the interval. We build a schedule around the aircraft rather than quoting a number.

Can washing damage aircraft paint?

Yes. The most common causes are excessive agitation, chemistry that is too aggressive for the substrate, and water directed where it does not belong. All three come from compressing the time available instead of adjusting the method.

Do you use FAA approved products?

There is no such thing as an FAA approved cleaning product. What exists are OEM and industry material specifications. The products we use conform to Boeing BSS7432 and AMS 1526C.

Get in touch

Tell us what you need and when.

Tail number, airport, dates. We will come back with a plan and a price, not a brochure.

Request Service

(833) 432-2378 info@allengroupe.com 1515 Perimeter Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406