Originally Posted by
commit aviation
No specific experience of ATRs but I know on many aircraft types painting the rudder is a pain. When you see new aircraft just out of manufacture, the rudder is painted even if the rest of the aircraft isn't. Perhaps being at the extreme rear of an aircraft might affect weight and balance or trim in some way. Presumably you have to remove it to paint it which affects handling so requiring an air test - an expense they would rather avoid.
Hopefully an engineer or someone who understands these things can explain as I would be interested to know myself.
Because the rudder on a lot of aircraft is balanced, similar to elevators and ailerons. Repaint can seriously alter the characteristics of the control surface, especially to flutter. Sometimes surfaces come off during a paint input but requires engineers and equipment. Bigger aircraft would need an input to a type specific MRO for rudder removal, repaint and fitting. Certaily the likes of Boeings and Airbus.