Rain Repellant on 737 windscreens
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 8,571
Likes: 3
From: Arizona USA
Much consternation about RainX, it appears.
Been using it for years on my private twin engine aircraft, no problems noted.
My business partner has his own personal jet, he uses RainX, and also has no problems....for the last ten years.
Many other business jet operators, likewise.
And yes, the stuff used on our airplanes is fully approved for use on same.
Sometimes, those in the airline world, who, from time to time, look down their collective noses at general aviation operators, perhaps need to emerge from their airline protected world, and see just how far advanced those of us who fly our own private airplanes, really are.
Nowhere today is this more apparent than cockpit instrumentation (glass) and indeed, the type you look through (windshields), to land.
And yes, old timers will surely remember that Coca Cola worked very well for the removal of Rainboe (the chemical type) from windshields, years ago.
Been using it for years on my private twin engine aircraft, no problems noted.
My business partner has his own personal jet, he uses RainX, and also has no problems....for the last ten years.
Many other business jet operators, likewise.
And yes, the stuff used on our airplanes is fully approved for use on same.
Sometimes, those in the airline world, who, from time to time, look down their collective noses at general aviation operators, perhaps need to emerge from their airline protected world, and see just how far advanced those of us who fly our own private airplanes, really are.
Nowhere today is this more apparent than cockpit instrumentation (glass) and indeed, the type you look through (windshields), to land.
And yes, old timers will surely remember that Coca Cola worked very well for the removal of Rainboe (the chemical type) from windshields, years ago.
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 37
From: Australia
I've got no dog in this fight but I find it odd you'd not know how a car windshield is constructed.
I just find it odd that people are using products that may not be approved by the FAA or the airplane manufacturer.... or health authorities. What happens when this automobile product is heated? Is it safe to use with fibreglass? Carbon composites? Does it break down into dangerous compounds in the presence of ozone, etc?
Why was aircraft rain repellent banned in the first place?
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Sweden
Why dont we just put a little prop in the front of every aircraft?
Seems to do the trick for SEPs, and then we could all get that lovely feeling of flying as it actually was during training!
I´d rather have a stupid prop there instead of using non approved chemicals... stuppid stuppid thing according to me.
Seems to do the trick for SEPs, and then we could all get that lovely feeling of flying as it actually was during training!
I´d rather have a stupid prop there instead of using non approved chemicals... stuppid stuppid thing according to me.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 308
Likes: 1
From: Australia.
A major airline in Australia applies Rain-X to the windscreens of their B737's on a regular basis (every A-Check) and engineers have it on stock around the domestic network so that they can re-apply it more often if the flight crew think it is needed.
It really does make the wipers obsolete! Brilliant stuff!!
It really does make the wipers obsolete! Brilliant stuff!!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,347
Likes: 838
From: Tring, UK
I use Rain-X on my car - super stuff! You rarely need wipers and the heavier the rain gets, the better it performs, even when getting huge amounts of water from lorries dumped on the screen.
I believe Rainboe was withdrawn from use due to the toxicity of the chemical/solvent mix. We had an incident on a 737 where the can leaked and oxygen was definitely needed.
I believe Rainboe was withdrawn from use due to the toxicity of the chemical/solvent mix. We had an incident on a 737 where the can leaked and oxygen was definitely needed.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 236
Likes: 1
From: belgium
Corrosion is another reason why some rain repellants cannot be used. Think about all these screws around a window.
Some products are aggressive over time, I had the habit of putting some product in my car window sprayer, and after 5 years there are 2 nice weared strips on the hood where the sprayers are. Like someone rubbed sanding paper over the paint.
Never use products that are not approved folks, that aircraft is not a car, and never rub a dry cloth over a pax aircraft windshield. Always make sure the whole window is wetted first.
Some products are aggressive over time, I had the habit of putting some product in my car window sprayer, and after 5 years there are 2 nice weared strips on the hood where the sprayers are. Like someone rubbed sanding paper over the paint.
Never use products that are not approved folks, that aircraft is not a car, and never rub a dry cloth over a pax aircraft windshield. Always make sure the whole window is wetted first.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Europe
NSEU.
rain repellent was removed due to environmental reasons,
good thing that I`m flying the A320, since rain repellent was re-installed, because airbus has a new patented type of rain repellent that is unharmfull to the environment. Not has effective has the one in the old 737, in my opinion, but good anyway!
rain repellent was removed due to environmental reasons,
good thing that I`m flying the A320, since rain repellent was re-installed, because airbus has a new patented type of rain repellent that is unharmfull to the environment. Not has effective has the one in the old 737, in my opinion, but good anyway!
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Oz
What kind of rain is this lady flying through, that the wipers on full chat don't clear enough water for her to see to make a safe landing.
