An Aircraft Detailer’s Dream – No Bug Stick Wings
It seems like a thousand years ago when I started my first real business washing aircraft at age 12. It turned out to be a very astute business decision in hindsight. Still, as a 12-year old it was really hard work, and I can remember scrubbing the bugs off the leading edge and wings of small light aircraft and business jets. Then I’d have to wax them really good to help me get the new bugs off next time I washed the same aircraft.
That was then, and this is now and there may be relief on the way for future young aircraft cleaners. Let’s talk, let’s discuss some new future technologies in Aerospace.
There is a great video on YouTube talking about NASA wing research for modern aircraft. The title of the video is: “The Super-Efficient Future of Air Travel” and it is well worth watching. Fast forward the video to: 16:00 on the video.
This video discusses the drag, both induced drag and parasitic drag, from dead bugs and how this affects a wing’s performance, which is another reason why aircraft detailers are constantly washing and waxing the wings of aircraft.
Now then, just imagine in the future specialized coatings that prevent dead bugs (smushed ones) from sticking – wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing, yes, I agree totally.
Wow, looking back, all I can say is; I sure wish they had such coatings back then, I’d have certainly saved myself so work, or would I have – maybe not, because if those coatings existed my aircraft washing, cleaning and detailing services may not have been needed.
Well, either way, these new technologies will be a complete game-changer for the Aircraft Detailing Industry, much like no-stick Teflon pans changed things for cooking bacon and eggs. Material Science has come a long way, and it is amazing just how much it will reshape the world we live in the future, even for those sub-sectors of our economy, things like aircraft washing and cleaning.
Sometimes I feel as if our industry doesn’t stay up on all the new technologies that affect us, and yes, it is a relatively simple business sector to participate in, nevertheless a prudent operator or owner of such a business needs to stay up with the leading edge of aerospace tech to stay ahead of the competition, thus, I thought you might like to hear about this.
After all, we don’t want any of our workers getting carpal tunnel while scrubbing off all those obliterated and baked on bugs do we? Please consider all this and think on it.
Aircraft Detailers – Now Is Your Chance Make Some Money Honey
It looks as if the 2016 Presidential Elections are going to turn out to be a Bonanza for the general aviation sector. It seems that all the financial analysts, Flying Magazine, Private Pilot Magazine, EAA President, AOPA, AvWeb, and Aviation Week and Space Technology all agree – 2017 is the year that will break records and set a nice pace for years to come. What does this mean for those of us in the general aviation services sector? It means ‘clear skies ahead’ and profits too.
Apparently, unlike the Obama Administration the Trump Administration doesn’t see aircraft owners as some part of the Evil One Percenters – rather it sees them as winners. This is a good thing. New Business Jet Aircraft Orders are already hitting record highs merely with the anticipation of change with the new administration.
Financing for new aircraft is also following suit, while smaller companies are investing in Air-Taxi Memberships, fly-sharing, and fractional jet plans. All of this is making things look rather good for those of us who’d like to get back to making money servicing all these new aircraft.
Aircraft International News had a special report in December of 2016 on the state of Corporate Aircraft Financing which stated;
“Cycles for the U.S. business aircraft fleet this year are expected to approximate the levels last seen in 2003, according to statistics provided by industry analyst JetNet. At that time, there were 9,500 business jets in service in the U.S.; today there are 12,500.”
Indeed, this trend is climbing out fast. Okay so, what does this mean for aircraft detailers? Well, it is a known fact that when aircraft owners buy new aircraft they are 50% more likely to put those aircraft on a cleaning regiment or regular customer program – including weekly washes and monthly detailing.
It also means more usage of current and existing aircraft, which equate to aircraft getting dirty in shorter time intervals. It also means used aircraft will be selling again as new aircraft start to back-order. People selling used aircraft make great detailing customers.
All-in-all, 2017 and 2018 appear to be on track to break records in the General Aviation Sector and that’s just great news for all of us aircraft service industry folks who’d also like to have a couple of solid record breaking years. If you already own an aircraft detailing company – it’s time to expand. If you want to start a new aircraft cleaning company – you’ve just been cleared for takeoff.
