Painting an aircraft is quite an elaborate process. The following checklist is our approach to painting your aircraft.
Inspection #1- Initial incoming inspection to determine exact workscope and note discrepancies in the general condition of the aircraft.
- Strip to Metal - Non-metal aircraft parts are protected from the paint stripper and the metallic surfaces are stripped bare with mil-spec organic chemical stripper.
Inspection #2 - Inwork inspection is accomplished to determine the extent of any hidden damage.
- Cosmetic Repair Work - A six man hour allowance is allocated to the cosmetic repair of minor bumps, dents, and dings.
- Surface Corrosion Control - A four man-hour allowance is allocated for the treatment of minor surface corrosion.
- Fiberglass Parts - Non-metallic airframes surfaces are machine sanded, polyurethane filler primed, and hand sanded.
- Skin Seams - Flush skin seams are cleaned, inspected, and sealed as required.
- Erosion Protection - High erosion areas are specially prepared by texturing them to give added “tooth” to the metal for better primer adhesion.
- Brightener Wash - The entire aircraft is hand washed with diluted phosphoric acid soap brightener and scuff pads, rinsed and hand washed a second time to achieve a water break free cleanliness.
- Alodine - All metal surfaces receive a complete alodine treatment. Controlled chromic acid is applied to the metal, conversion coating it to non-metal aluminum oxide. This treatment provides a corrosion protection barrier and the basis for superior adhesion.
- Primer - One coat of chromate epoxy primer is applied for corrosion protection and top coat bonding.
- Color - Three coats of overall Jet Glo polyurethane Base color are sprayed over all of the aircraft.
- Trim Colors - The trim colors of your choice, in the most current factory paint design are applied.
- Landing Gear - The landing gear, brakes, and wheel assemblies, but not the wheel wells, are prepped and painted a silver lacquer or matching overall exterior color to current factory design specifications.
- Flight Control Surfaces - The applicable flight control surfaces are removed, balance checked to the manufacturers tolerances and reinstalled by a licensed A.P.
- Bright Metal - (when applicable) The existing unpainted bright metal surfaces are re polished.
- Placards - The FAA requires placards only as listed in the aircraft fight manual are applied to the finished surfaces.
- De-Icer Boots - (when applicable) The pneumatic deicer boots are finished with an application of the B.F. Goodrich conductive edge sealer, then sealed with gloss black polyurethane enamel.
- Window Seals - Cabin windows are sealed with an elastomeric fillet sealant for a finished window treatment, if needed.
Inspection #3 - A final airworthiness inspection and work scope specification inspection are accomplished. The aircraft logbooks are signed off with an airworthiness release.
"We are conveniently located at the new MID-WAY Regional Airport just south of Dallas in Waxahachie, Texas."
Midway Regional Airport
Waxahachie, Texas
126 Airport Road, Building A
972.937.3337