Aircraft Cleaning: Solvents and Safety

ACS- Airman certificate standards

• Notes taken on February 4, 2025, at 7:28 AM

Two Division Cleaners

• Heavy duty cleaners are typically flammable solvents and emulsion cleaners
• Light duty cleaners are non-flammable soaps and synthetic detergents

3 Categories of Washing Exterior Aircraft

• Wet Wash removes oil, grease, or carbon
• Dry wash removes dust
• Polishing removes mild corrosion and oxidation

Improper Cleaner on Aluminum and Composite Materials

• Using the improper cleaner on aluminum and composite materials causes corrosion

High Pressure System

• Fogging

Solvent Cleaners

• M.E.K. for metal surfaces
• Acetone can remove heavy grease from fabric
• Freon & Isopropyl Alcohol are for oxygen lines and masks

Safety and Standards

• SDS- Safety Data Sheet
• HMIS- Hazardous Materials Identification System
• MSDS- Material Safety Data Sheet
• ANSI- American National Standards Institute
• OSHA- Occupational Safety & Health Administration
• NIOSH- National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health Administration
  • The colours indicate:
    • Blue- Health
    • Red- Flammability
    • Yellow- Reactivity

Aluminum

• This is a soft, lightweight metal that can be easily manipulated

Forms of Aluminum

• Castings are molten metal poured into a form
  • Example: Christmas shaped chocolate
• Forge is heated to a plastic state
• Wrought are ingots