Airline liveries

Some airlines require elaborate designs on their aircraft.

Airlines will spend a great deal of time and resources to get a colour scheme on their aircraft which reflects the image it wants to project to the world.

Due to the expansion of the low-cost carriers and the rebranding of charter airlines, the demand for aircraft repainting and consequently, aircraft paints.

The facility, a fully equipped painting bay, is temperature and humidity controlled and can be used to accommodate aircraft up to the size of a 757-300. Lighting and an air extraction system and the required flame-proofing has to be in place. A tail dock system enables the fin to be worked on.

Aircraft paints

Acrylic urethane and polyester urethane paints are the most common when it comes to painting aircraft. They come in two parts that are mixed just before application, which interact chemically with each other in a process called polymerization to provide a hard, durable finish.

Aviation paints manufacturers include Pratt and Lambert, Sherwin-Williams, PRC Desoto (PPG), Akzo Nobel, and Axon. Jet Glo and Acry Glo by Sherwin-Williams are two popular brands.

Typically, one coat of corrosion primer is laid down followed by two to three successive coats of paint; then any decorative striping and clear coat are applied. High-end business jet paint requirements go a step further, requiring a sanding surfacer to be applied after the corrosion primer.

Aircraft paints selection is where the most serious errors occur in aviation. Dry film thicknesses of each paint layer as directed by the coatings manufacturer must be strictly adhered to by the aircraft refinisher for corrosion resistance, long-term durability, and gloss retention.

Aircraft paints use resins with their own unique heat and humidity requirements for proper curing. Heat, air movement, and in some cases, humidity control, are important in creating the right painting environment.