Washing Planes

[Too Short]

Just wondering if airliners ever get washed as they always appear to be really clean on the outside :cool:

I've never seen a plane being washed - is it just that the dirt gets wicked away as the plane zips through the air?

Sorry if this is a really dumb question - I'm new :O ... and curious

TS

[surely not]

Yes they do get washed, and on a regular basis. It isn't cheap either! Most airlines have a programme for washing aircraft after a pre determined number of sectors. A clean a/c is a more efficient aircraft.

[HZ123]

Indeed there is a permanent wash crew at BA LHR based on the engineering facility. Some additional info when Mr Blair / HRH flies the BA a/c is usually washed and polished or washed twice if time is tight.

[Dr Illitout]

There are two kinds of wash too.
A "cosmetic wash" involves cleaning the airframe to make it look nice and a "Technical wash" that involves "jet washing" the gear, flaps and various bays. This is done before a maintenance input to enable these areas to be inspected properly. As part of the input all corrosion protection and grease removed by the jet washing will be replaced.
In this enviromentaly friendly age there have to be special wash bays so that the "Dirty water" can be collected and treated before it is poured down the drain.
Can't think of anything more!!!

Rgds Dr.I.

[ALLDAYDELI]

Not always the cost $$ factor but time factor of doing this.
I agree, nothing like a splenid, clean, shiny & efficient airplane.

I always remember this question coming up in a BA inflight magazine. The response from pilot of the month was that "everytime we go through a cloud we get a 500mph jetwash" - not always strictly true....

[the_flying_cop]

up here where it is grim, it is the job of the observers and pilot (yes pilot) to wash our kite on a sunday morning.

we take it to the designated 'washing stand' and use a variety of sponges and brushes on our beast. its a filthy job especially during the winter months.

there is a company that will do it for you, but our chief constable prefers that we save the x hundred pounds for flying instead.

i often wonder what all the passengers think as they taxi past us. hope they realise they are getting value for money.

p.s. when we got our new helicopter we had to wash it twice a week, wednesdays and sundays.

importantly though, washing it by hand gives us the chance to inspect the aircraft up close, and as a result any defects or damage are quickly spotted and rectified. a good flight safety measure.



anyone still awake?

TFC

[WHBM]

I believe that when washing demineralised water is supposed to be used, which doubtless contributes to the costs involved.

Among other causes of the dirt is de-icing fluid, a somewhat sticky substance which gets all over the airframe and which dirt then clings to, and which impairs the aerodynamic efficiency of the aircraft and leads to extra drag and fuel burn.

On a smaller scale anyone who has operated out of grass airfields in the winter will be well aware of all the mud and grass thrown up onto the underside of aircraft. That certainly does not come off as you potter through the air, clear of cloud, at 105 kts !

[reverserunlocked]

Perhaps someone could forward this thread to Air France to remind them that other airlines actually WASH their aircraft....

www.airliners.net/open.file/596501/M/

AF's fleet is almost always filthy!

[TheOddOne]

I believe that when washing demineralised water is supposed to be used, which doubtless contributes to the costs involved.

At LGW, the 2 companies involved use Best Gatwick Tap; I've not heard of a requirement for demineralised water. They also use pretty strong detergent. I asked them to wash my vehicle one day and it finished up matt yellow! (but nice and clean)

We have 2 areas of a couple of stands each where the runoff is intercepted rather than allowed down the normal drainage system. When we scrub all the other stands we use soap, rather than detergent, as it's considered more environmentally friendly.

Contaminated drainage is a nightmare, especially in the winter, what with Skydrol, lubricants, fuel and de-icing fluids. The Environment Agency won't accept our drainage water until the Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) meets a certiain standard, so we have to provide large storage facilities (big ponds) to cope with the heaviest rainfall.

I certinly wouldn't have thought that flying through cloud would have had any effect on the dirt. Apart from boundary layer considerations, it takes heavy mechanical brush action to scrape the dirt off.

the_flying_cop

I think I sent the rest of them to the land of nod!

Cheers,
The Odd ONe

[WHBM]

I believe that when washing demineralised water is supposed to be used

Never having been involved further than light aircraft being washed by one of the specialist contractors, I got this from an account a while ago of a preserved Lockheed Constellation owned by an enthusiast group being brought to New York to do a PR event for TWA in their final days, and as a contribution TWA gave them a top-notch wash by their JFK crew. It was all described in great detail, including the spec of the water.

[Too Short]

Many thanks for all your very interesting replies - I never realised so much
went into it!

Regards

TS

[jammydonut]

A folk legend has it that a certain "fizzy drink" had the right acidic content for cleaning "bare metal" A/c

[bear11]

Dunno about aircraft, but that fizzy drink with phosphoric acid is the dog's dangly bits for alloy wheels - same thing, methinks! We won't go into what it does for your teeth.....

[Dr Illitout]

If the old "Rainboe" rain repelant was applied to a dry windscreen it would leave a sticky film on it . This would cause visability problems, particularly in bright sun light. A quick "on the line" way of removing said film was to pour a can of "The real thing" on the screen, then wipe if off. God knows what that stuff does to your insides though!.
It's not an urban myth either 'cos I've done it and it worked like a charm!!!.

Rgds Dr I

[Krystal n chips]

Certainly not an urban myth re. a "certain fizzy drink" and cleaning a windscreen--like the good Dr I above--have done it myself many times in the past. Bit off topic, but the syrup version, ie before it gets "processed"--was regarded as being one of, if not the, most difficult substance(s) a very well known can and container producer in the UK ever encountered--which is why I only ever used the stuff on windscreens--never my delicate anatomy :p

[FlyboyBen]

Kinloss has an impressive "plane wash" used for washing the salt from the body of the Nimrods after they have returned from long over sea flights. As the aircraft taxis through the wash, large jets of water are sprayed onto the body.

I remember during a cadet summer camp being put through it in a soft-skinned land rover. Ahh, the joys of being a cadet!

[the_flying_cop]

is it CAA approved to cover your machine in a fizzy drink?

might be a bit of a worry in 10 years time when its eaten through the control surfaces etc.

ok, i know its a bit dramatic but its only meant as a bit of a wheeze.

i also consider it to be a bit expensive to pour the stuff away rather than drink it. this could explain my 11 fillings.


regards, TFC

[Krystal n chips]

TFC,
Well in view of your occupation, I have to be careful with my reply:D --however, I have to say I can't recall this procedure being a part of CAIPS--but ---they are very lengthy books so I suppose I could have missed it----;) however, the cost was neglible as the company duly supplied the fluid involved--so to speak---:hmm: ---so if you can overlook this little fact, I won;t log a complaint for low flying next time you are doing low orbits over certain parts of the M60 and your bright and shiney machine distracts me from driving --or wakes me up at 03.30 hrs !:ok: :D

Must be the best job in the Police I reckon :ok: