Washing your chopper...
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Washing your chopper...
Been told by those in charge of our base that our chopper has to be washed every other day to keep the paint work looking nice. Now I have no truck with that idea but surely using a detergent on the aircraft so often will have a detrimental effect to the paint and the insides if it gets into the airframe?
Get yer nice bossfellah to buy you some wash and wax soap just like you use on your Ferrari....and use that....works a treat....the aircraft will shine...your engineer will be more apt to walk out to the aircraft....the boss will be happy...and you will get some exercise. Everyone wins, Mate!
Now if you want to be a dirty bird...suggest it just isn't "green" to wash the aircraft on the ramp or pad...all of the oil and grease that is washed off finds its way into the ground water if it is not correctely routed through a filter system of some sort. If you do...have your Resume up to date...for you will need it.
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HeliBelly,
Whatever you do (or don't do as the case may be!!) DON'T use good ol Fairy Liquid.
Your engineers will not be happy with you!
"It may well be the early bird who catches the worm, but it is the second mouse who get's the cheese!! :-)"
Whatever you do (or don't do as the case may be!!) DON'T use good ol Fairy Liquid.
Your engineers will not be happy with you!
"It may well be the early bird who catches the worm, but it is the second mouse who get's the cheese!! :-)"
Gatvol
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I have lots of folks who believe its belittling to have to wash their helicopter.
Consider this........What better way to preflight and wash at the same time, it gives you an extra look at the entire aircraft..
Consider this........What better way to preflight and wash at the same time, it gives you an extra look at the entire aircraft..
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Chopper Washing
I expect the guys who work for me to wash the chopper about every 5 flying hours, including me. Most turbines get dirty enough by then, especially at the back end. Image is important in this industry - even in the bush!
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It's not that I disagree with washing the thing (and getting your hands dirty never hurt anyone) I'm more worried about the detergent ruining the paint job and getting into the airframe. Just wanted to check to see if anyone knew of any examples where overwashing had had a detrimental effect on the aircraft...
as to washing your other chopper........
as to washing your other chopper........
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Ask your engineer what he suggests. He's the guy who is responsible for the maintenance on the aircraft. And washing is maintenance. Get him to tell you about cleaning the transperancies (windows) and keeping gunk out of the pitots and not washing grease out of bearings etc;
He'll most likely tell you something with a neutral Ph. Most commercial truck wash's are suitable. Just stay away from anything caustic.
He'll most likely tell you something with a neutral Ph. Most commercial truck wash's are suitable. Just stay away from anything caustic.
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There's a good product we use and its called TURBO T-5968 AWW its an neutral aircraft wash comes in 20ltr drums of concentrate...very good and you dont need much at all in the mix
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
To add to the Mighty Gems post;
...... I, on the other hand, so to speak 
, shall wash mine as fast as I like, thanks. 
It's my chopper, and I'll wash it as oftens as I like, thank you very much.
, shall wash mine as fast as I like, thanks.
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Now Lowlevldevl has raised an interesting point when he says: "Ask your engineer what he suggests. He's the guy who is responsible for the maintenance on the aircraft. And washing is maintenance. "
Under some authorities it is definitely maintenance and is part of a periodic check (e.g. weekly inspection) and I have even been told that I, as a pilot, am not authorised to do that!
I once worked for an organization that regarded the decision as to when a machine was dirty was an engineering function and not for operations or sales & marketing to decide, so we got to fly some dirty machines. Worked for another operation where they washed them everyday during the ‘after flight’ inspection; I much preferred that, I think we all did (both operations and engineering staff).
Whether the pilot washes the machine or an engineer does it is mainly a cultural thing. In Australia & New Zealand I believe it is 'the norm' for the pilot to get his hands wet however in most places (at least when measured by population) I think it would be culturally unacceptable for the pilot to pick up a 'wet sponge' and 'get stuck in’ on a regular basis.
Under some authorities it is definitely maintenance and is part of a periodic check (e.g. weekly inspection) and I have even been told that I, as a pilot, am not authorised to do that!
I once worked for an organization that regarded the decision as to when a machine was dirty was an engineering function and not for operations or sales & marketing to decide, so we got to fly some dirty machines. Worked for another operation where they washed them everyday during the ‘after flight’ inspection; I much preferred that, I think we all did (both operations and engineering staff).
Whether the pilot washes the machine or an engineer does it is mainly a cultural thing. In Australia & New Zealand I believe it is 'the norm' for the pilot to get his hands wet however in most places (at least when measured by population) I think it would be culturally unacceptable for the pilot to pick up a 'wet sponge' and 'get stuck in’ on a regular basis.
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Shortshaft.
not sure how many times you've washed your machine but i guess you know what a sponge looks like!!
im actually a pilot and i dont want to brag but a chief pilot with 5 staff and i wash our machines twice a week depending on what work we do as we are based on the coast!....i enjoy washing the machine!! its gets me up close and personal and you see every little nook and cranny if you do it properly, it should take about 30 mins for a jetranger to wash properly.
for our operation that has no engineers!!...i think it to be culturally acceptable for pilots to wash the machine....as he is the one who has made the mess!!. i dont mean to be derogatry toward you but that is my culture!...you dirty it you clean it!!
not sure how many times you've washed your machine but i guess you know what a sponge looks like!!
im actually a pilot and i dont want to brag but a chief pilot with 5 staff and i wash our machines twice a week depending on what work we do as we are based on the coast!....i enjoy washing the machine!! its gets me up close and personal and you see every little nook and cranny if you do it properly, it should take about 30 mins for a jetranger to wash properly.
for our operation that has no engineers!!...i think it to be culturally acceptable for pilots to wash the machine....as he is the one who has made the mess!!. i dont mean to be derogatry toward you but that is my culture!...you dirty it you clean it!!
Last edited by belly tank; 12th Apr 2005 at 13:38.
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washing your chopper
sounds like a refreshing thread....people who don't mind washing an aircraft every once in a while.........
some people......of military mindset.....think it either below their station to wash a cab or view it as an engineers job!!
if you fly it(and make it dirty) clean it!!!
some people......of military mindset.....think it either below their station to wash a cab or view it as an engineers job!!
if you fly it(and make it dirty) clean it!!!
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I agree washing the helicopter gives the pilot time to get a good look at the machine. I personally don't like flying a dirty helicopter and enjoy spending the time around the machine. Besides than just looking better a clean aircraft (more importantly rotor blades) flys better as well.
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Hey Guys, I agree with everything you said. All I am saying is that you are in denial if you think that the majority of the world, population wise, sees it your way.
Belly Tank, good for you! However your post reveals another interesting situation. You use the word 'machines', plural, so I am assuming that there is more than one of them, and that you have five staff and no engineers/mechanics, so it is a reasonably sized operation (perhaps not by North American standards). You say you do it weekly, so this situation has existed over a protracted period of time. Whilst I am sure that this is a situation that is approved by the regulatory authority (CASA?) this is not a situation that would be tolerated by the regulatory authorities in a large part of the world. They make 'pilot maintenance' exceedingly difficult / virtually impossible. Not arguing the rights or the wrongs, the pros or the cons, just stating that there is another way of looking at things and that this different perspective includes the issue of who holds the sponge / leather.
Belly Tank, good for you! However your post reveals another interesting situation. You use the word 'machines', plural, so I am assuming that there is more than one of them, and that you have five staff and no engineers/mechanics, so it is a reasonably sized operation (perhaps not by North American standards). You say you do it weekly, so this situation has existed over a protracted period of time. Whilst I am sure that this is a situation that is approved by the regulatory authority (CASA?) this is not a situation that would be tolerated by the regulatory authorities in a large part of the world. They make 'pilot maintenance' exceedingly difficult / virtually impossible. Not arguing the rights or the wrongs, the pros or the cons, just stating that there is another way of looking at things and that this different perspective includes the issue of who holds the sponge / leather.