Commerical Aircraft Wash

[zhamilton89]

How much business is there in this field? I'm going to college as a flight major in Arizona at ASU and Im just testing the waters for this business, it would be great to get my foot in the door with some airlines and also a great way to make money through school.

Thanks!

Zach

[RMedbery]

Liability would be HUGE, but you charge accordingly. Here in ATL Delta has the belly of the aircraft cleaned on a regular schedule which is contracted out. A heavy wash before maintenance is done by employees.

[Scott Stone]

Sky harbour, or Phoenix International is really demanding on waste water recovery. Really, really demanding. If you can get in there to wash planes, which, I have my doubts about, there are a couple fo major carriers that have service facilities there, both Southwest and USAirways have major maintenance facilities at the airport. I know that they would require a minimum of $5million liability to even think about going on the runways, along with the standard background checks, etc. You will need to do some heavy duty research into what the airport requirements are, and how you are going to work with them and make the airport happy.
You might be able to get into Williams-Gateway to wash some planes there, but they are not nearly as busy. You would need to get the airlines to fly the planes in to have them serviced. It is not that far away, and would be a lot less restrictive. Just an idea.

[RMedbery]

You would need to get the airlines to fly the planes in to have them serviced. It is not that far away, and would be a lot less restrictive. Just an idea

Bahahhhahhaa.................now thats funny right there.

[zhamilton89]

yea no chance on having them serviced at williams, I will be spending half of my time in college at williams as a flight student, anyone think there's any money in private planes/ small aircraft?


-zach

[buc21jrs3]

I KNOW there is money in small/private aircraft. If a guy/girl owns a private aircraft, money is usually not a problem (doctors, lawyers, business owners, etc.). When I was in flight school a guy had a pressure wash rig that he would wash/wax Cessna's , Pipers, Beechcraft, etc. all over the airport. It can be hard to break into the GenAv community since it is a tight knit group but you have a leg up up since you are in/ going into the field. Aircraft owners are protective of there investments, which they should be, but as long as you have the insurance to cover the job and are SUPER CAREFUL with what you are doing, there is a great deal of $$$ to be made. The guy I knew paid his way through college and had money left over. Watch out for the static ports and pitot tubes when washing the planes. I would reccommend starting on planes with metal skin over fabric experimentals. It will be more forgiving and allow you to build experience/confidence to move on to other jobs. Charge seperate for a wash and wax. If you do it right (just like most pressure wash jobs) it will take a few hours to complete. Don't use anything high pressure to wash a GenAv airplane. Good luck and keep the drive up! Aviation can be rewarding....it has been for me.

[Tmrrptr]

Washing aircraft sounds like an excellent gig!

Just as anything else for sensitive clients, superb liability insurance will be a priority.

Not many aircraft owners would have the time to wash their own plane. My guess is it rarely comes up on the honey-do list.

[Russ Johnson]

A company that I used to work for had an aviation maintenance department, UPS being their client. All planes are hand waxed with a wax / compound called Aero Gloss. No pressure washing was done at all. Steam was used to degrease running gear, etc. so water would not be forced past seals and into bearings.

Imagine if you will, a crew off 15 guys using extension poles and 5" X 10" pads. Dip the pad in the wax, rub the plane, change pads, and buff it off. Plus a couple of guys in bucket trucks doing the upper fuselage and tail.

[zhamilton89]

What insurance companies/ coverage options would you recommend for an aircraft wash? The business I have in my head would be just myself or a fellow college student working on private planes.

I want to do a self contained rig with no trailers, would you recommend that i keep my truck (98' chevy 2500 long bed) and put a water tank in it along with a small power washer (i have an 3gpm 3000psi with an 8hp briggs i/c) then all of the small tools and wands and chems in a locked toolbox?

Do you think this washer is large enough?

How large of a water tank is sufficient and will still allow room for the toolbox (2'x6') the pwasher and a few hose reels?

Thanks for all of the help I hope this all turns out and I can make some money during school.


Zach

[Scott Stone]

That would probably work. You might want to consider detailing, as well. If and when you get here, and you want to start up in Arizona, let me know, and I will hook you up with my insurance agent, and another one that I will use if I ever decide to switch. Both are VERY reputable. Then you need to figure out how to get business. There are plenty of smaller airports in this neck of the woods. I can think of 9 that are just for small private planes within about 35 miles of ASU.