FoxTrot Aviation Services Completes NBAA’s First Live Demo at Maintenance Conference
The National Business Aviation Association achieved a milestone during the 2025 Maintenance Conference by hosting the first-ever live demonstration in the event’s history.
AviationPros attended the conference, where speakers and exhibitors provided valuable perspective on key areas of business aviation, from safety to purchasing to workforce insights.
One of these exhibitors was FoxTrot Aviation Services, an aviation service provider with offerings like paint polishing, brightwork, aircraft cleanings, on-airport janitorial services and more.
The team at FoxTrot Aviation Services took the expo floor stage on April 29, providing a live demonstration of their paint polishing and brightwork processes.
Founders Chris Stump and Anthony Pentz introduced the company and discussed its creation, offerings and successes. They also made sure to thank their crew members and reflect on the accomplishments of their team.
Director of Process Development Mehrdad Zarifkar stepped in for the actual demonstration. First, Zarifkar polished the paint on a piece of an aircraft wing, showing how the company revives the paint jobs on aircraft without the need for full removal and repainting. Using delicate motions, Zarifkar polished a sectioned-off piece of the metal, showing a significant difference between the "before" and "after" states.
Zarifkar then polished a piece of aluminum, highlighting why special care must be taken when servicing soft metals that are easily scratched. As he sectioned off the polished section, the difference in condition was clear, like in the previous example. He used buffing tools and Nuvite polishing compounds of varying intensities for each procedure.
Throughout the demonstration, Zarifkar offered expert insight into the effectiveness of different polishing solutions and buffing tools, showcasing how the FoxTrot team personalizes the equipment they use for each job to achieve the desired results.
He also emphasized the importance of using clean pads and tools for such jobs, noting the risks of using poorly maintained or overused cleaning equipment, such as continued scratching and duller results.
As the demonstration incorporated products from Nuvite, Zarifkar went into detail about the unique characteristics and uses for each product.
Field Application Engineer at Nuvite Radara McHugh-Elkins joined the demonstration, answering questions from the audience about which of the solutions are best for different types of jobs. This included discussions of the metal care and paint care products, including Skyde Clear, the anti-corrosion clear coat that can be used on bare metal.
