Reference
The words, explained.
Aircraft appearance work has its own vocabulary, and a quote that uses it without explaining it is not much of a quote. Here is what each term actually means, and why it changes what a job costs.
A
- Alcantara A branded suede-like composite of polyester and polyurethane used for cabin headliners, seat inserts and trim.
- AOG Aircraft on ground — an unplanned situation preventing an aircraft from flying, or an urgent requirement that must be met before a departure can proceed.
- Appearance program A recurring, scheduled maintenance arrangement for aircraft appearance, priced against a defined interval and scope rather than as one-off visits.
B
- Based aircraft The aircraft permanently stationed at an airport, as distinct from transient traffic.
- Belly soiling Accumulated oil, hydraulic fluid, grease and airborne grit on the underside of the fuselage, gear bays and gear doors.
- Brightwork Unpainted polished metal on an airframe — typically leading edges, engine nacelles, exhaust stacks and wing root fairings.
C
- Carpet extraction Hot-water extraction that injects solution into carpet pile and recovers it under vacuum, lifting embedded soil rather than redistributing it.
- Ceramic coating A semi-permanent silica-based layer applied over corrected paint.
- Certificate of insurance A document issued by an insurer evidencing a vendor’s coverage, its limits and any additional insureds.
- Clear coat The unpigmented top layer over modern base-coat aircraft paint.
- Corrosion inhibiting compound A displacing, film-forming product applied to airframe cavities and structure to exclude moisture.
- Crazing A network of fine cracks in an acrylic transparency, caused by stress, solvent exposure or age.
D
F
L
P
- Paint correction Machine polishing that removes a controlled amount of clear coat or single-stage paint to eliminate swirl marks, oxidation and light scratching.
- Part 135 The US regulation governing commuter and on-demand commercial operations — charter.
- Part 91 The US regulation governing general operating and flight rules for private, non-commercial aircraft operation.
- Pitot tube A forward-facing probe that measures impact air pressure for airspeed indication.
- Pollen season The Southeast spring period when tree pollen — principally pine, oak and birch — coats exposed surfaces.
- Pre-purchase inspection A structured technical inspection commissioned by a prospective buyer before an aircraft transaction closes.
R
S
- Sealant A synthetic paint protection layer, less durable than a ceramic coating but faster to apply and easier to renew.
- Single-stage paint An older scheme where pigment and gloss are in one layer, with no separate clear coat.
- Static port A flush opening on the fuselage that supplies ambient air pressure to the altimeter, airspeed indicator and vertical speed indicator.
- Swirl marks Fine circular scratches in a clear coat, usually caused by improper wash technique, dirty media or aggressive machine work.
T
- Transparency The aviation term for a window, windshield or canopy panel.
- Trip-ready A cabin returned to first-flight presentation between legs — galley, lavatory, entry, seating and high-touch surfaces — sized to the gap in the schedule rather than to a full detailing scope..
- Turn time The interval between an aircraft arriving and departing again, within which every ground service must be completed.
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