Actually, planes get dirty more than we think. Aircraft surfaces are contaminated by various factors such as dust, rain debris, bird droppings, insect residues and hydraulic oils. Exhausts in the aircraft blow the polluted air towards the sides and tail of the aircraft and cause various particles to adhere to the surface and become contaminated. During a plane ride and while driving the taxiway, many insect swarms pass through it. These insects stick to the plane and cause pollution. All these pollution causes in the aircraft disrupt the aerodynamic structure of the aircraft in the air and significantly reduce fuel efficiency and flight safety.

Economic Factor of Washing Aircraft

With a simple calculation, airline companies save an average of 5 thousand dollars a month if they wash their planes regularly. An airline company with a fleet of 200 aircraft can save around $ 12 million a year, and this is a very serious figure. All these reasons raise the issue of how important plane washing is.

How to Wash Planes?

As with all kinds of operations in aviation, very serious procedures are followed in aircraft washing. Washing is carried out in company with authorized aircraft technicians. During washing, there are spots where water and various chemicals will damage some parts of the aircraft. Before the washing phase, all these points are carefully protected. The landing gear is protected in order not to be affected by various chemicals, and then the washing process is started after all the controls are made. This washing process with water and chemicals is repeated at intervals of two or three months, depending on the type of aircraft and the region where it is located. Approximately 13,000 litres of water is spent washing a single-aisle passenger plane. Apart from that, dry washing processes with special chemicals are also used. Some airline companies, which are more sensitive to the environment, prefer this process and aim to reduce water use. The entire surface of the plane is wiped with a robot, and this process, where approximately 20 personnel work, can take up to 8 hours. This process is repeated every 6 months.