PLANE PERFECT

BY NICK CROFT

To everyone reading this, it is fantastic to be part of the Patrician Magazine. We’ll start things off with an introduction.

My name is Nick Croft, and I’m the Co-Founder of Plane Perfect Detailing (more on this later). Not only did my greatgrandfather have a role in building the VFC hangar, but my Dad was also the Chief Flight Instructor here a long time ago. Some of you may also remember me as a “line guy" for the summers of 2016 through 2018.

Whilst it was a pleasure fueling your airplanes, I have something more to offer… Plane Perfect Aviation Detailing. I hope that this article (and potential future articles) will help educate you and help keep your aircraft cleaner, safer, and maybe even add a few knots. Sounds good right?

So let’s dive in… In this article, I want to cover just a few of the main benefits of having a clean aircraft. For the purpose of this article, when I use the term “clean”, I mean a smooth, contaminant-free, and protected exterior surface.

Safety

Safety in aviation is paramount. I think it’s fair to say that we’ve all experienced a questionable windscreen at some point in our flying career. Improper technique, paired with a poor quality rag can lead to hazing of the windscreen that only becomes apparent on final approach with the sun in your eyes!

Adopting a regular cleaning routine helps you to become intimate with your airplane and you may notice things that you wouldn’t normally notice on your typical walk around. Some examples of safety items that I’ve notified past clients about are smoking rivets and missing screws.

Aesthetics And Experience

We all love taking friends and family up in the air to share our love for the skies. That's why it’s really important that they feel safe and trusting not only in your incredible piloting skills, but also in the metal tube that you’re taking them up in. A clean, shiny aircraft gives the perception of a well-maintained one, giving peace of mind to your passengers. At the end of the day, everybody loves taking photos of the landscapes through the windows, but they don’t always turn out well with piles of scratches and plastered on bugs in the way.

Maintenance

Cleaning your aircraft regularly, as well as applying a sealant to your airframe (e.g. a wax, or ceramic coating) will go a long way to both reducing the effort of each clean, but also reducing the number of times you have to clean. There are many reasons for this that we hope to explain further in future articles, but the long and short of it is creating a slippery surface with low surface adhesion. Doing this can also extend the lifespan of your paint, and protect against corrosion! You tell me what’s more cost effective, $40,000 for a new paint job, or some elbow grease and good quality aviation-certified product?

Resale Value

What catches your eye first when looking to buy a new aircraft? An aircraft with flakey, oxidized, or chalky paint? Or one with a glossy smooth finish like the one below.

An aircraft with a rough looking exterior gives the perception to the buyer that the owner doesn’t keep up to date with regular maintenance items. On top of that, the new owner will have to spend their own time and money to restore the appearance of the aircraft. So not only will your aircraft sell more quickly, but you can boast how well it’s been cared for and the fact that it’s protected for the years to come!

A bit about Plane Perfect Detailing…

Plane Perfect is all about making your life easier, and ensuring you’re doing what you’re supposed to do - flying your airplane rather than cleaning up after it.

Plane Perfect Detailing is co-founded by myself (Nick Croft) and my business partner (John Sommerfeld). Our idea was born after seeing my grandpa's rigorous post flight routine; the airplane goes into the hangar, the rags come out, and we get right on those pesky bugs before they harden like concrete. There was a clear pain point that we wanted to tackle, so we developed our idea through UVic’s entrepreneurship program as we completed our Bachelor of Commerce degrees. Unlike regular auto detailers, we have intimate knowledge about aircraft and complete a thorough walk around with clients on any aircraft we detail.

Our solution is simple. We strive to make cleaning easier, faster and effortless through careful technique, innovative products, and aviation experience.