Aircraft Coatings

There are a lot of very cool looking aircraft out there today. Cool in the sense of paint scheme design and layout, and of course any array of attractive colors that seem to reach out and grab your attention as illustrated on this month’s cover of Aircraft Maintenance Technology. According to Roy Block, Elliott Aviation paint shop manager, “Customers are seeking out high-quality paint jobs with fast turns.”  The requirement for eye-catching designs, great looking aircraft, and high quality paint services is supported by Randy Johnson, director of corporate aircraft services and paint shop manager at King Aerospace. Johnson says, “Customers are asking for VVIP level quality.”

Cool looking designs and high-quality paint jobs begin well before the designer steps into the picture. High-quality paint jobs are a result of the talented people who actually paint the aircraft and the decisions they make when choosing products and equipment.

What are paint shops, painters, and maintainers looking for when it comes to aircraft coatings? In this issue of AMT, senior editor Barb Zuehlke took a look and summarized the survey results for you. She also provides some trends seen by a couple organizations that are heavily involved in painting aircraft. 

This month’s issue of AMT also takes a look at some of the challenges today with training composite repair technicians. Louis C. Dorworth with Abaris Training Resources talks about the Metal Mindset seen with training some of our industries more experienced maintainers – maintainers accustomed to working on aircraft constructed with traditional aluminum materials.

Also on the topic of composite materials Pete Bunce, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, takes a look at the latest use of composite materials today from a design and construction safety perspective. Pete describes some of the efforts underway to better understand how composite structures react in emergency landing scenarios.

For the ultimate airline line maintenance experience, Tim Kern visited the FedEx Express maintenance facility in Indianapolis, IN. Tim looked at how FedEx Express took a common-sense approach to creating efficiencies in this Midwest facility. What began as a time study in 2007, looking at time spent by mechanics chasing tools, parts, and all the necessary items to safely maintain their company’s freighters, resulted in dedicated work carts for nearly all routine tasks the maintenance group accomplishes. Another result was the information challenge. Each FedEx Express technician at IND was issued an iPad and all information required to do their jobs is available using it – no more paper.  

Enjoy the September issue, Ron