Careful with disinfecting aircraft

[double_barrel]

It seems that a student destroyed the panel of an aircraft in an attempt to disinfect it

https://twitter.com/ltyoja/status/1293533685556359172

['Chuffer' Dandridge]

The club fleet on which I instruct have had their interiors ruined by 'disinfectant' products and wipes. Just think what it does to your skin!!!

[Fl1ingfrog]

The media has been full of the correct advice on cleaning for covid 19: that is SOAP and WATER and this is repeated over and over. There are lots of hand gels etc on the market that do have some convenience; at shop or business entrance etc and throughout hospitals. No one has claimed that chemical treatments are more effective than soap and water and in some cases, unless stated, it is warned that they may be less effective.

A damp cloth soaked in diluted washing up liquid is all that is needed and can be kept in the aeroplane together with a spray bottle just as simply as any gel or similar, and will do no damage.

[swh]

My guess is they used sodium hypochlorite (household bleach).

[PilotLZ]

Instead of telling concerned people "not to fly", the flight school should have established cleaning and disinfection protocols before reopening. And those could have included substances which are appropriate for the purpose and would not damage the aircraft. Airline aircraft also have their cockpits disinfected frequently these days - and I haven't seen any ruined panels as a result of this.

Of course, if there's such a protocol in place, it has been made known to everyone but nonetheless someone knowingly deviated from it - this is entirely their fault and they should be the one to pay for restoration.

[ChickenHouse]

Surprise, surprise ...
My hangar neighbour did Covid-clean his G1000 ...
He is now awaiting two new display units ...

[Chuck Glider]

Fl1ingfrog, washing up liquid is detergent not soap. The benefit of soap for getting rid of covid 19 is in the fat it contains which binds to the virus so it can be washed down the drain. Washing up liquid, while maybe better than nothing, won't do that but if you want a simple wipe then isopropyl alcohol should do just fine.

[Radgirl]

Easy to be wise after the event....

Soap and water probably not ideal for the panel nor other areas where water ingress might be a risk

In hospitals we use 2 antiviral wipes. One for work surfaces including glass and another for electronic equipment including screens and monitors. Easily obtained on the net. Pity nobody asked

The benefit of soap for getting rid of covid 19 is in the fat it contains which binds to the virus so it can be washed down the drain. Washing up liquid, while maybe better than nothing, won't do that but if you want a simple wipe then isopropyl alcohol should do just fine.
err no. soap and detergents disrupts the lipid coat around the RNA. Once denuded the RNA is deactivated. soap, detergent etc all work. Beware of isoproplyl alcohol on plastics and paint finishes as well as upholstery. you dont need it. And you arent washing anything down the drain I hope, you are deactivating it. Washing down the drain suggests buckets of water or a hose, and where is the drain.....

[7AC]

The world seems to have an endless supply of fools.

[cats_five]

The gliding club provides a couple of buckets with some water & soap, plus clothes. That's what we clean gliders with between different pilots. The incoming pilot does the cleaning

[Fl1ingfrog]

Radgirl of course provides expert advice; whether you have 'washing up soap' or 'washing up detergent' can be a name dependant on what part of the world you are, They act the same whether detergent or soap on the Covid-19 virus. Hopefully clubs are in the main ensuring that training eradicates stupid acts like soaking the instrument panel with lots of water is both wrong and unnecessary. The cloth, for those who need to be told, need only be damp with soap/detergent water which can then be used on all parts of the aircraft interior and exterior: around doors, inspection panels and dipstics etc. and is also cheap and always available.

[A and C]

Washing up liquid contains salt............ do not use on aircraft.

[Fl1ingfrog]

Tap water contains salt, up to about 5% and so very similar to that of most domestic hand washing up liquids. The aim is to simply wipe the aircraft surfaces with a damp cloth so let us not be silly

I've never known anyone refuse to use tap water to wash an aeroplane. I can't recollect any aircraft manuals advising against using tap water on metal aeroplanes either (willing to be proved wrong on this).

[megan]

I've never known anyone refuse to use tap water to wash an aeroplaneThe Cessna POH is specific that tap water is recommended for washing the exterior. For the interior ( plastic trim, instrument panel, headliner, control knobs) a damp cloth is recommended, and includes the statementVolatile substances such as gasoline, benzine, alcohol, acetone, fire extinguisher or anti ice fluid, lacquer thinner or glass cleaner must never be used to clean the plastic since they soften and craze the plastic.That statement seems to have been proven correct. The POH includes care of upholstery, leather, windscreen etc

[Richard Dangle]

A better title would have been "Careful with Disinfecting Antiques"

Fair play...it's meant tongue in cheek...but there is a serious point in there somewhere :)

[Genghis the Engineer]

I've been using kitchen bleach spray on panels, and soapy water for everything else. Multiple applications, no issues so far apart from slightly damp seats, but that's no big deal. And yes, I did do extensive homework before starting to.

G

[Pilot DAR]

It seems that a student destroyed the panel of an aircraft in an attempt to disinfect it

So the student did something to the plane which was in conflict with the instructions provided in the flight manual. For Cessnas, Section 8 contains care and cleaning instructions. Like any other operation of the aircraft, the pilot is expected to do what the flight manual says to do! (By the way, among the products under the "Never Use" category in that section, is alcohol.

So the student, while having care and control of the aircraft, failed to follow specific flight manual information on how to care for it, and it was damaged as a result. It seems clear to me who's responsibility this is, as the instructions were available! We don't make up our own operating techniques, and making up our own care techniques is obviously a poor idea too!

[Geriaviator]

Several car makers warn against using chemical cleaners on plastic. Apparently they can degrade or embrittle the plastic with serious results should it be covering an airbag.

[cats_five]

I've been using kitchen bleach spray on panels, and soapy water for everything else. Multiple applications, no issues so far apart from slightly damp seats, but that's no big deal. And yes, I did do extensive homework before starting to.

G

Why kitchen bleach spray? What's wrong with a cloth wrung out in soapy water?

[Maoraigh1]

"the pilot is expected to do what the flight manual says to do!"
No aircraft flight manual I've seen mentions hygiene procedures even for known infectious diseases, for this one you're on your own.
But it's spread seems more from air breathed in than surface contact.

[Fl1ingfrog]

All students operate under the supervision and instructions of an Instructor. Unless they willfully act in contravention of their instructor they cannot be blamed. With the current requirement that aircraft are disinfected between each flight then clear unambiguous instructions: what, when, with and how the aircraft should be cleaned must be detailed by the organisation. Their instructions are those that are put into practice, and in the case of a student they must be overseen by their instructor. Don't ever blame the student they are signed up to learn.

I've lost count on how many times in the media that it is stated, Coronavirus spreads: in water droplets (increasingly it is believed they could be spread airborne dry) exhaled by coughing, sneezing and from speech projection. If a person sneezes into their hands it is believed the virus can also be spread by touch. Whether the virus can be found on surfaces from coughing/sneezing, spit or touch is anyone's guess. Just clean, clean and clean. Theory can come later when all has calmed down and a lot more has been learned.

[Jhieminga]

Digging a bit further into the comments that accompany the original tweet, the same poster mentioned that the student used something obtained from a vodka distillery....

[Pilot DAR]

No aircraft flight manual I've seen mentions hygiene procedures even for known infectious diseases, for this one you're on your own

The general instructions for prevention of Covid are wash well with soap and water, which seems to correspond really well to what Cessna says to clean their interiors, so it seems to me that following the instructions (POH) would be very appropriate.

Otherwise, nearly any cleaning product I have seen has instructions which include the words "test in an inconspicuous area before applying...". So, between that wise general premise, and not having permission to wipe something unproven, uninstructed around someone else's plane, I think the wiper bears some responsibility for damage.

[A and C]

It would seem to me that as will a lot of the things about Covid19 the cure is worse than the illness, in the rush to virtue signal all sorts of stupid things are going on.

In the UK your chances of meeting someone who is infected are very small, the chances of becoming infected are quite small and you chances of death are dependent on your general heath so for most people this is very small.

So for this we have wrecked the economy, imprisoned our old people, Not educated our young and take all sorts of needless so called precautions.

The damage to aircraft interiors is just another symptom of the mass hysteria of being seen to do something no matter how futile .

[Genghis the Engineer]

Why kitchen bleach spray? What's wrong with a cloth wrung out in soapy water?

Because bleach needs very little liquid to be effective as a disinfectant, and has no effect on most hard materials.

G

[Genghis the Engineer]

It would seem to me that as will a lot of the things about Covid19 the cure is worse than the illness, in the rush to virtue signal all sorts of stupid things are going on.

In the UK your chances of meeting someone who is infected are very small, the chances of becoming infected are quite small and you chances of death are dependent on your general heath so for most people this is very small.

So for this we have wrecked the economy, imprisoned our old people, Not educated our young and take all sorts of needless so called precautions.

The damage to aircraft interiors is just another symptom of the mass hysteria of being seen to do something no matter how futile .
My wife, who has lost two relatives and a colleague to this disease, would tend to disagree with you. The colleague's family, a wife and two teenage boys, probably would too.

G

[homonculus]

Not educated our young and take all sorts of needless so called precautions.

I dont agree with much of your post, but this is spot on. Most middle aged and elderly people are behaving responsibly. It is increasingly clear that we are moving from a low risk to an increasing risk due to the young partying, pub crawling and simply ignoring advice. The worry is they will then 'infect granny'. That is why we need precautions, or more accurately restrictions

[cats_five]

Sodium hypochlorite can damage metal.

[megan]

It is increasingly clear that we are moving from a low risk to an increasing risk due to the young partying, pub crawling and simply ignoring adviceHere in Oz one state is saying the virus is carried predominately by the 25 year olds.

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!]

So for this we have wrecked the economy, imprisoned our old people, Not educated our young and take all sorts of needless so called precautions.

Except we haven't really. Well some people have, but others refuse to wear masks, avoid public gatherings or demanded schools be immediately reopened, and as a consequence the infection rates and the associated death toll are increasing

Sure, it's not a real problem ... unless you get infected or die from it

[tmmorris]

I dont agree with much of your post, but this is spot on. Most middle aged and elderly people are behaving responsibly. It is increasingly clear that we are moving from a low risk to an increasing risk due to the young partying, pub crawling and simply ignoring advice. The worry is they will then 'infect granny'. That is why we need precautions, or more accurately restrictions

With infection numbers, hospital admissions and deaths still continuing to drop, and more people now dying of flu than of COVID19 (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending31july2020), where’s the evidence for your 'increasing risk'?

[Dave Gittins]

Sodium Hypochlorite (AKA bleach or chloros) certainly doesn't like copper or aluminium. Of course extent of harm depends on concentration and length of exposure.

[TelsBoy]

Oops. Looks like in the Covid-19 Hysteria era common sense has went well and truly oot the windae. Pandemic of stupidity. Who thinks its a good idea to spray various fragile (and in many cases decades old) materials with all sorts of chemicals?

To quote Homer Simpson, "D'oh!"

[Fl1ingfrog]

This article was published in the avweb newsletter today.

Some Disinfectants Can Damage Airplanes

Russ Niles (https://www.avweb.com/author/rniles)

August 30, 2020

AOPA is warning aircraft operators (https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/august/20/improper-disinfectant-appears-to-damage-two-skyhawks)to be careful in choosing the disinfectants used to keep aircraft COVID-19 safe. A Florida flight school had to remove the instruments and switches and resurface the panels of two Cessna 172s after a well-meaning renter used ethanol-based sanitizer to clean the yokes of the aircraft. The overspray hit the panel and damaged the paint on the panel of the aircraft owned by Atlas Aviation in Tampa. The client got the disinfectant from a distillery and used it despite the school supplying safe disinfectant wipes and instructions on how to use them, according to AOPA.

Ethanol can play havoc with rubber seals, shellacked surfaces and plastic parts in airplanes and vehicles and is not recommended for those uses. Many items used by pilots can be harmed by ethanol, including tablets, portable GPSs and touch screens. Avionics manufacturers recommend using disinfectants that use isopropyl alcohol and don’t contain any ammonia.

[Senior Paper Monitor]

Milton provide the answer - dilute the traditional cleaning fluid (coronavirus effective) - using the normal ratios - into their surface cleaner rather than water and light spray on to surfaces (or clothes and use those to apply) - allow 15 minutes and wipe off any remaining residue (usually evaporated and no sticky residue) and you are 'off to the races'. Also highly effective hand wash.,

Plant based - safe and effective on babies and pretty much any other surface !!

[edsbar]

Amazing how many operators of Cessna / Beech aircraft do not have access to the manufacturers online FREE portal.....

Preserving & Disinfecting Your Aircraft Print Listing (javascript:window.print())
ATA: N/A Models: All Models Published: 04-08-2020Textron Aviation is closely aligned with the guidance of government and local public health authorities in the regions we operate to ensure all necessary actions and precautions are taken.



Disinfecting your aircraft:

Zip-Chem Calla 1452 and Netbiokem DSAM may be used to disinfect an aircraft interior.1 In testing performed by Textron Aviation’s materials engineering team, these products did not adversely affect samples of hard surfaces, interior leather, or windows. Aircraft interiors furnished with custom-based materials may need further evaluation by spot-testing on an inconspicuous area.



If you're unable to attain these disinfectants due to shortages, we recommend these alternative cleaning options (Please note, cleaning may remove germs, viruses and other contaminants from surfaces, but may not be effective to kill them):


Aircraft furnishings: We recommend using isopropyl alcohol (IPA)/water mix (60% IPA/40% water, by volume). For best results, wipe the surface with an IPA/water mix and let it dry. This mix can also be sprayed onto soft surfaces, like carpet, but do not use this IPA/water mix on aircraft leather and windows.
Leather and windows: Any commercially available soap and water, such as dishwashing soap, can be used.
Electronic displays: For glass products with anti-reflective (AR) coating, use a concentration of greater than 50% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) with a micro-fiber cloth to prevent scratches. Do not use bleach or Lysol® wipes, or any cleaners with Citric Acid or Sodium Bicarbonate as these can etch the coating on these displays. AR glass is used on displays and touchscreens in the Garmin G1000, G3000, and G5000 systems, as well as Collins Proline21 and Proline Fusion. Do not use IPA on acrylic, Lexan, or Polycarbonate screens such as the Garmin GNS 430/530.


The following options are not approved for use in Textron Aviation aircraft:

Ozone generators: Ozone can be highly reactive to organic materials. Depending on its degree of ozonation, this method may degrade surfaces or rubber hoses.
Hydrogen Peroxide: any solution of hydrogen peroxide may evaporate when used as a mist, degrading leathers, acrylic, or polycarbonate window coatings.

In the U.S., Textron Aviation is using disinfecting solutions to clean all aircraft upon their arrival to a company-owned service center location.



In the EU, we request that any aircraft being brought to a Textron Aviation facility for maintenance is first disinfected in accordance with EASA Safety Directive 2020-02 Operational measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus ‘SARS-CoV-2’ infection. While we are still confirming availability at all EU company-owned locations, our contracted cleaning service providers may be able to support this directive. Your Textron Aviation representative can provide you with additional information.



1 These solutions are recommended by their manufacturers as generally effective against human coronavirus strains. Textron Aviation is not aware if they have been specifically tested for effectiveness against COVID-19.



Preserving your aircraft:

If you decide to preserve your aircraft during this time, reference Chapter 10 in your Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) for directions and information. In addition to offering overall guidance, Chapter 10 will point you to the relevant Engine Maintenance Manual (EMM) for your aircraft, which provides engine storage requirements. Requirements for several lengths of downtime, including "Ninety-One Days and Over Storage," are available for customers to determine what is necessary for their aircraft. All storage steps should be documented in the logs if required or in a preservation log. Please note, if your aircraft has been exposed to environmental contaminants (such as salt water or runway de-icing fluids), we recommend a complete aircraft wash before storage. Refer to AMM Chapter 12, Exterior Cleaning, for further information.