Sponsor Announcement: Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services Joins The Aero Experience Team!

By Carmelo Turdo

The Aero Experience is proud to announce that Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services has joined our team as a sponsor and advertiser. Plane Clean is a mobile interior and exterior aircraft detailing company currently serving customers at five St. Louis and Metro-East Illinois area airports. They offer three levels of detailing services that will refresh and preserve most general aviation and business aircraft from a Piper Cub to a medium twin, a small business jet and everything in between. Plane Clean not only makes your aircraft stand out from the rest, but they are also a certified dealer of Aero Cosmetics Wash Wax All products and a provider of quality jobs for those entering and advancing through their careers in the aviation industry. 

Owner Guy Matthews and his crew strive to provide the best possible results through personalized service to aircraft owners and fleet operators. Plane Clean employees have a passion for aviation, and their skill and dedication are displayed on every aircraft they touch.

"We are a professional service that caters to the aviation community's detailing needs," Matthews told The Aero Experience. "We use premium chemicals. We do the waxing and target different parts of the aircraft." Even the wing walk non-slip surface is cleaned and treated.

Matthews trains his crew members in all procedures and safety practices, and new employees undergo a provisional work period under his direct supervision. Regular recurrent and advanced skills training is conducted as the company deploys more crews to meet demand.

"Some may think that their aircraft is not worth detailing," Matthews continued, "but in reality, it is preventive maintenance. If you look at the effects of bugs and stains on paint, it is detrimental. It could cost you twenty to thirty thousand dollars for a paint job because you didn't clean and maintain the aircraft's paint." 

Exposure to the elements causes incremental surface damage to aircraft, especially those parked outdoors. Oxidation, fading, chipping and bug damage to the thinning paint are constant concerns for aircraft owners. Aircraft interiors face many of the same challenges, often showing their wear and tear in the form of cracked vinyl and faded cloth. While starting an aircraft detailing regimen is advisable early in the aircraft's life, even older models can benefit from arresting the harm already done to original materials.

Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services uses the Aero Cosmetics line of American-made products that is safe for all aircraft surfaces. Belly Soap cleans tough areas like bottom panels and cowlings. Wash All cleaner and degreaser handles the landing gear and wheel well clean-up jobs. Wash Wax All gives UV protection and a light wax to make future cleaning easier. Wax All adds a layer of protection that lasts up to one year. Rubber Care is ideal for tires and plastic surfaces.

Here we feature Guy Matthews providing the Full Service Detail Package to a 1960 Beech B95 Travel Air. Generally, it takes a day to complete the full service on most general aviation aircraft, though that may vary depending on the amount of initial cleaning needed. The results speak for themselves. Contact Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services for a custom quote.

The aircraft interior receives expert attention as well, with other products used for leather treatment and non-streak window cleaning. Matthews includes a vacuum and steam cleaning process for cloth seats, upholstery and carpet as part of the Full Service Detail package. A Travel to Go Kit - 32oz bottle of Wash Wax All, a Bug Scrubber Pad and 4-pack of Aero Towels - is given to each aircraft owner after the service.

Following the Premium or Full Service Detail Packages, a monthly Maintenance Wash keeps the aircraft clean and protected. Fleet operators have found that the Maintenance Wash service works well at the 100-hour inspection interval. This small investment in regular detailing care will be noticed by pilot and passengers alike along with prospective buyers if the aircraft is offered for sale in the future. 

The Aero Experience will continue to feature Plane Clean Aviation Detailing Services in our monthly sponsor story lineup. Next month we will have more coverage of the aircraft detailing process, including a video with Guy Matthews and Shepard working on the Beech Travel Air shown above. Contact Plane Clean today for more information on the service package that best suits your aircraft detailing needs.