Aircraft cleaning service

[AussieNick]

hey all,

a mate of mine and myself have been tossing up the idea of offering an aircraft cleaning/detailing service to people. You know exterior, metal polishing, interior etc. we're a bit stuck on costing though. we are looking at a fixed price to singles and twins eg $50 for a SE and $100 for a twin (examples) which would get you a full interior, exterior and metal polishing, but thought I'd put a post on here to see what operators both commercial and private would think is a fair price.

So, what would you be willing to pay for a service like this. please only serious answers.

We would be looking at only doing this on a casual sort of basis, not a full time job as were both also looking for commercial flying positions too but hey, need to make ends meet somehow

[VH-XXX]

Whilst I wouldn't pay it as I'd do it myself, I would have thought a full polish on a say twin might be a lot more than that ($100). You'd be doing yourself a dis-service by charging only $100. To properly polish your average twin externally only I would think you'd be up for atleast 2-3 hours work.

I also would think that you would need to ensure that your polishes and product are CASA / Aircraft manufacturer approved.

For a 172 I would pay $80 for an internal clean including seats and roof lining etc and perhaps $150 for a good external polish.

[Connaught]

call up ultra shine in Perth they do the same service, clean and polish,

ask em what they charge

to do our medium size twins (35pax) takes 4-6 people with power buffers about 8 hours

so i agree 100 bucks sounds like a real good deal to me

yes i am aware your idea of twin is smaller than mine

[AussieNick]

let me redifine i'm thinking af aircraft not bigger than an 404

hmmm so maybe instead of a fixed rate use that as an hourly rate, but lower the cost of the single. possible have 2 seperate rates for AC under 8 seats and AC over 8?

the products we are looking at are FAA/CASA approved. was the first thing we looked at was to make sure that all products we are going to use are designed/approved for use on aircraft

[megle2]

Its all been done before.

For a hundred bucks you will find that you cannot even afford to drive past the aircraft in question let alone wash it.

Private owners generally wash / polish their own.

Charter only pay when there are no budding " wanna be's " hanging around.

Then you have permits / licences / permission to trade from airport owners.

ASIC's

EPA pop their head up. No residue on the ground ect ect.

Insurance and maybe issues with log book entries for some of your work.

Workers Comp / vehicle / pump / vac / water and whatever else.

Go for it, should be fun.

[YPJT]

There was discussion some time back on PPRUNE about CASA approval being required to carry out polishing of aircraft. Not sure if that applied to procedures involving mechanical devices or across the board.

Worth checking out with CASA as you might find it a bit more difficult than just setting up even after complying with the list of considerations put up by megle2.

[P-factor]

Gee nick... Just because you're a ranga doesn't mean you should be selling yourself that f'ing cheap...

Might work I guess, at those prices you'll be damn busy at least. I suggest coming out and polishing my turbine, If you still are happy to do it for $50 you've got a job here every week.

Just thinking mate, if you're happy to polish a plane for $50, why do I get the feeling you'll be throwing yourself in the door in front of me to work for free :*

[dash 27]

Hello.

I in the 80's as a teenager, funded my licence from student to commercial with a niche market on the gold coast. I wasnt greedy and had no overheads, and I in those days washed, polished and detailed the interiors of all types. I had clients who would pay me weekly to prepare, cross seatbelts, vac, remove bugs, check oil and ensure it was always full of fuel, so they could just show up and go. And others would pay me in flying lessons and some would give both money and flights for the cause. I had a good raport with everyone, at the airport and outside as my name spread.

These days, most airports have environmental issues with solvents going into drains. Designated wash bays for washing, and charging for the use of it. And then there is the issue of people letting you taxi their airplane. Insurance, and the like in these economic times i would find a challenge to find a profit for any enterprise other than for the love of flying.

Sure if you did other things like cars or boats and specialized in aircraft, then that might attract a professional look for you, but the airport hanger rat has been flogged to death without a long term niche.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but best wishes if you can find a way to make it work.

Cheers

:}

[AussieNick]

thanks for the replys guys. like i said its only an idea at the moment. we;d obviously look at our overheads and work on a price structure from there. but again things change.

the idea was to at least have us on the airfield and in the right place

[Howard Hughes]

EPA pop their head up. No residue on the ground ect ect.

Be very careful with this one, a single 'on the spot fine' may wipe your entire years profits!:eek:

[AussieNick]

yeah the EPA is something that we are well aware of.

look at the end of the day this is just an idea, still hasn't gotten off the drawing board yet. we thought it us as just a way to get a little side cash. in all honesty we probably wont go through with it due to the ammount of crap we have to get approved from the airport, i mean if we were looking at making it our business we be into detailing not just general cleaning etc.

thanks for the honest replys guys.

Matt

[Howard Hughes]

If you speak with the airport owners, they will know what is required (EPA wise) and where you can wash aircraft. Unfortunately as others have said this may cost you.

I for one think the idea certainly has merit. Many aircraft owners are quite fastidious with their aircraft and don't necessarily have time to look after it themselves. Just be sure you are charging enough, I have washed and polished many aircraft and to do it properly takes time, a lot of time!:eek:

Good luck with the venture, I applaud you for giving it a go!:ok:

[Atlas Shrugged]

Have a look at the condition and age of the typical GA aircraft around the GAAPs.

You can't polish a turd!

;)

[The Green Goblin]

I'd charge $100 just to get the crap off the belly of half those flying school junkers!

To clean and detail a Baron used to take me at least 3 hours, usually a whole morning or afternoon.

A PA31 used to take up to a whole day sweating in the sun.

Scarecans and 210's a good morning or afternoon also.

Have fun!

(I notice you are in Darwin?? if you clean a D*****Air aeroplane, make sure you charge up front else you will not be paid!!)

[Me_3]

Might pay to give these guys a call..

Australian Aviation Detailers Cairns | Aircraft Detailing | Full on-site aircraft cleaning services (http://www.australianaviationdetailers.com.au/)

[ryanboxer]

try these guys they look after Melb, Syd & adelaide, anything from Cessna 152 through to Robbies, Gulfstreams, Metros and Saabs.

Home - Prestige Aero Detailing (http://www.prestigeaerodetailing.webs.com)

[PyroTek]

ryanboxer:
I reckon their aircraft would be VERY dirty if they were still looking for a cleaning service...:ugh:
Last post 2 years ago :ok:

[ryanboxer]

agreed, was just after the outcome?

[dudduddud]

You can't polish a turd!

No but you can roll it in glitter!

http://www.carriecats.com/PageBuilders/PlaneGlitter.gif

[AussieNick]

outcome was we both ended up getting job flying, so there was no need to persue furthur

[NZScion]

Have a look at the condition and age of the typical GA aircraft around the GAAPs.

You can't polish a turd!

;)

Hate to break it to you... You can :yuk:



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[ForkTailedDrKiller]

There is a mob operating out of Cairns and occassionally Townsville.

Seems like a good idea - but too dear for me!

Dr :8

[Skystar320]

isn't that what low paid GA pilots do, clean the aircraft aswell as the boss's car?

[ryanboxer]

know of a few jobs going in "Aircraft Detailing" jobs going in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, PM if interested, fully negociable