So what if you know that the damage
goes down to the base color coat or even to the structure below? Again, the right repair is tied to the severity of the damage. If the scratch goes all the way to the metal or composite, it’s a totally different, and much more involved process.
“A very simplified version of a repair would look like this:” Mullins explained. “Ensure the area is clean and remove all the color on the defect. From that point the repair can either be blended with a blending solvent or cleared then blended.” “In many cases,” he added, “the area is then lightly polished to remove any overspray.” Wood also suggested that even if you do a spot fix to the color that you clearcoat the entire panel. “That’s going to give you the highest durability and it going to wear at the same rate as the rest of the aircraft’s finish.”
Ready, Aim…
While a complete understanding of the exact chemistry of the primer and BC/CC is critical to achieving the high-level of quality you want, Wood also stressed that you have to use the right type of spray gun. “The latest achievements and
improvements in spray gun technologies
StandardAero recently became the fi rst MRO to complete the ERAU/SSPC Aerospace Coatings Application Certifi cation Program. Shown here, a completed Falcon fresh out of a StandardAero paint job.
have been tremendous,” he said. “If you think back to the ‘70’s and the old Binks model 7 syphon spray gun you’re missing a lot in what today’s sprayers can do.” “Today probably 95-percent of repairs
are done with a new gravity-feed type gun. This works so much better with the high- solids paints because you are not using energy to pull the paint up then trying to atomize it,” Wood explained. “It minimizes overspray, minimizes consumption and still gives you a great finish, especially on smaller, touch-up repairs.” “There have also been big advancements in the paint cup itself,” he added. “Several companies now offer disposable liner cups so you don’t have to waste time and chemicals to wash the cups and it takes a lot
less solvent to clean the guns.”
Interiors Need Help Too Of course with all the wear and tear that interiors suffer, sooner than later you’re going to have to do some paint touch-ups on the inside. AkzoNobel recently introduced its Dab2Fix (
www.anac.com/Brochures/ AkzoNobel_Aerofine_Dab2Fix.pdf ) paint application system created for quick interior paint repairs. According to the company, the system “allows controlled application to interior surfaces, correcting surface damage in a simple and effective way. The sponge applicator ensures areas can receive a touch- up repair to maintain the overall appearance of the aircraft interior.” AM
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www.HeliMX.com 40 Aviation Maintenance |
avm-mag.com | April 2013
Dec 2012 | Jan 2013
The Source for
Helicopter Maintenance Professionals
Corrosion & Erosion
The Great Maintenance Headache
Radalt – The Other Altitude
Tanis Preheat Systems for Helicopters
Borescopes – An Inside View
HeliMx.com
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