Shortly after arriving at a small airfield in eastern Switzerland, the head of the flying school guided our team across the site to the hangar where three aircraft were waiting.

The target was to complete one or two aircraft on the first day, so the team began immediately. We removed waste and loose dirt from the cabins, vacuumed the interiors, cleaned the glazing and worked carefully around narrow seams and controls.

The most unusual part of the assignment was the exterior cleaning and protection.

Each aircraft received a thorough hand wash. Persistent contamination such as soot and insect residue was treated with care rather than force.

After polishing, including hand work around smaller inaccessible areas, the team applied a protective system developed for the requirements of aircraft surfaces.

The aim was to make later cleaning of brake dust, combustion residue, oil, fuel deposits and grease easier. Any product used near components exposed to elevated temperatures must be selected for that environment and applied within its technical specification.

Corrosion protection was another important part of the treatment. The expected durability depends on exposure, use, maintenance and the exact substrate, so the aircraft should be inspected periodically rather than relying on a fixed interval alone.

By the end of the first day, the four-person team had completed two aircraft. The remaining work was finished the following day and handed over to the flying school.

We appreciated the opportunity to apply AVP's surface-care experience in a different setting and thank the flying school for the assignment.