TRANSPORT CLEANING
CLEANING ON A JET PLANE
Amid the excitement of boarding a flight, it’s probable that few of us would spare a thought for the cleanliness of the plane itself. However, Newcastle-based DCS
Multiserve investigates what goes into maintaining aeroplanes, revealing that ‘just winging it’ isn’t an option.
Love them or hate them, the majority of us associate planes with the excitement and relaxation of going on holiday (those of us that aren’t scared of flying, that is).
With the anticipation of going on, or returning from holiday, you’re unlikely to spare a thought for the cleanliness of the plane, or how it is washed and maintained between flights.
Newcastle-based professional cleaning services provider DCS Multiserve has investigated how planes are cleaned, and how often.
HOW IS THE PLANE
CLEAN APPROACHED? Like everything else involved with commercial flights, the cleaning of the plane is planned with precision to ensure a quick turnaround and efficient work.
Real-time data can now be accessed, which determines exact arrival times for aircraft, so that the cleaning crews can be ready to work as soon as the passengers have stepped off the plane.
THE EXTERIOR OF THE PLANE
How Often? The frequency of plane cleans varies from airline to airline according to Travel Skills, who made enquires with a number of airlines.
According to their research, British Airways claims it depends on the type of aircraft. The typical time scale, they believe, is every six to eight weeks, but shorter flights typically get more cleans, as they have more take-offs and landings. United Airlines said they carried out plane cleans every 50 days, and Singapore Airlines clean planes monthly.
How? For the exterior of the plane, companies often utilise pressure washers to strip away dirt and grime. When using the pressure washers, cleaners have to be on safe working platforms, as the pressure washer can often knock them off balance.
The tail of the plane receives a lot of focus, with it being the most likely to get dirty during the flight. The wash begins with the tail, which is cleaned in a top-to-bottom motion for efficiency. The plane is then cleaned from tail to nose.
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Alongside the water from the pressure washer, detergent is also used to remove more stubborn dirt – especially around the exhaust and engine.
The windows: The plane’s windows are often done by hand, sometimes the pilots clean the windscreens themselves.
The wheels: The wheels are tackled with a pressure washer, brush and detergent.
The process is completed with a rinse of cold water.
THE INTERIOR OF THE PLANE For a swift turnaround, airlines opt to give the cabin a ‘turn clean’. This is a quick clean between flights, especially for short flights when there isn’t time to give the plane a thorough clean.
During the turn-clean, certain areas are targeted, including Business and First Class areas, the galleys and the toilets. A litter pick is conducted throughout the plane, and the rest of the plane is vacuumed. For a longer stay, a plane can be given a deep clean, although this is still conducted to quite a strict time schedule.
The toilets get a thorough clean, whether it’s a turn- clean or a deep clean. The waste tanks are emptied by a lavatory truck, the water tank is refilled and the interior and exterior of the toilets are scrubbed.
WHY IS CLEANING
A PLANE SO IMPORTANT? Planes are more susceptible to the build-up of dirt and bacteria than you might expect, making the cleaning and maintenance of a plane an essential task.
The inside of the plane picks up bacteria from the people on board, including MRSA and E-Coli. This bacteria is easy enough to clean if the interior of the plane is looked after regularly and efficiently.
The flight exposes the plane to rain, bird excrement, bugs, oil from the hydraulics systems and other residue. The exterior of the plane needs to be cleaned, as any dirt or grime left on its surface can cause drag, which can damage the flight’s overall efficiency.
www.dcsmultiserve.co.uk Tomorrow’s Cleaning | 49
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