AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS II
2.0 AIRCRAFT PAINTING AND MARKING (ATA 11, 20 and 51)
ATA 11 – Placards and Markings
ATA 20 – Standard Practice (Airframe)
ATA 51 – Standard Practice and Structurers (General)
2.1. INTRODUCTION:
Paint, or more specifically its overall color and application, is usually the first impression that is
transmitted to someone when they look at an aircraft for the first time. Paint makes a statement about the
aircraft and the person who owns or operates it. The paint scheme may reflect the owner’s ideas and
color preferences for an amateur-built aircraft project, or it may be colors and identification for the
recognition of a corporate or air carrier aircraft.t
Paint is more than aesthetics; it has the following affects;
▪ It increases the weight of the aircraft.
▪ Paint also improves the physical appearance pf the aircraft i.e., it gives the aircraft
beautiful looks.
▪ It protects the integrity of the airframe i.e.; the topcoat finish is applied to protect the
exposed surfaces from corrosion and deterioration.
▪ Also, a properly painted aircraft is easier to clean and maintain because the exposed surfaces
are more resistant to corrosion and dirt, and oil does not adhere as readily to the surface.
A wide variety of materials and finishes are used to protect and provide the desired appearance of the
aircraft. The term “paint” is used in a general sense and includes primers, enamels, lacquers, and the
various multipart finishing formulas.
Primer – primer or undercoat is a preparatory coating put on materials before painting. Priming ensures
better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for
the material being painted (corrosion inhibition).
Enamels - Enamel paint is a paint that air-dries to a hard, usually glossy, finish, used for coating surfaces
that are outdoors or otherwise subject to hard wear or variations in temperature. Enamel paint is defined
more by its qualities than by its content. In the broadest sense, enamel paint means any solvent-based
paint that dries to a hard, vitreous-like (or, glass-like) shell. Solvent-based paints are also called oil-based
paints, in contrast with water-based paints.
Lacquers - Lacquer paint is a colored or colorless paint and/or a process, known for its high gloss, mostly
applied to wooden or laminate surfaces. Lacquer paint is the name of the completely covering painting
process so that there is no wood grain or pattern.
Paint has three components:
▪ Resin as coating material,
▪ Pigment for color,
▪ Solvents to reduce the mix to a workable viscosity.
, Internal structure and unexposed components are finished to protect them from corrosion and
deterioration. All exposed surfaces and components are finished to provide protection and to present a
pleasing appearance.
Decorative finishing includes
▪ Trim striping,
▪ The addition of company logos and emblems,
▪ Application of decals, identification numbers, and letters.
2.2 FINISHING MATERIALS:
A wide variety of materials are used in aircraft finishing. Some of the more common materials and their
uses are described in the following paragraphs.
Acetone - Acetone is a fast-evaporating colorless solvent. It is used as an ingredient in paint, nail polish,
and varnish removers. It is a strong solvent for most plastics and is ideal for thinning fiberglass resin,
polyester resins, vinyl, and adhesives. It is also used as a superglue remover. Acetone is a heavy-duty
degreaser suitable for metal preparation and removing grease from fabric covering prior to doping. It
should not be used as a thinner in dope because of its rapid evaporation, which causes the doped area to
cool and collect moisture. This absorbed moisture prevents uniform drying and results in blushing of the
dope. Blushing and blooming in paint are usually described as the appearance of a whitish substance on a
surface of varnish or enamel.
Alcohol - Butanol, or butyl alcohol, is a slow-drying solvent that can be mixed with aircraft dope to
retard drying of the dope film on humid days, thus preventing blushing. A mixture of dope solvent
containing 5 to 10 percent of butyl alcohol is usually sufficient for this purpose. Butanol and ethanol
alcohol are mixed together in ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:3 to use to dilute wash coat primer for spray
applications because the butyl alcohol retards the evaporation rate.
Benzene - Benzene is a highly flammable, colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It is a product used in some
paint and varnish removers. It is an industrial solvent that is regulated by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) because it is an extremely toxic chemical compound when inhaled or absorbed through
the skin. It has been identified as a Class A carcinogen known to cause various forms of cancer. It should
be avoided for use as a common cleaning solvent for paint equipment and spray guns.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) - Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), also referred to as 2-Butanone, is a highly
flammable, liquid solvent used in paint and varnish removers, paint and primer thinners, in surface
coatings, adhesives, printing inks, as a catalyst for polyester resin hardening, and as an extraction
medium for fats, oils, waxes, and resins. Because of its effectiveness as a quickly evaporating solvent,
MEK is used in formulating high solids coatings that help to reduce emissions from coating operations.
Persons using MEK should use protective gloves and have adequate ventilation to avoid the possible
irritation effects of skin contact and breathing of the vapors. Methylene Chloride Methylene Chloride is a
colorless, volatile liquid completely miscible with a variety of other solvents. It is widely used in paint
strippers and as a cleaning agent/degreaser for metal parts.
Toluene - Referred to as toluol or methylbenzene, toluene is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with a distinct
odor similar to that of benzene. It is a common solvent used in paints, paint thinners, lacquers, and
adhesives. It has been used as a paint remover in softening fluorescent-finish, clear-topcoat sealing
materials. It is also an acceptable thinner for zinc chromate primer. It has been used as an anti-knocking
2.0 AIRCRAFT PAINTING AND MARKING (ATA 11, 20 and 51)
ATA 11 – Placards and Markings
ATA 20 – Standard Practice (Airframe)
ATA 51 – Standard Practice and Structurers (General)
2.1. INTRODUCTION:
Paint, or more specifically its overall color and application, is usually the first impression that is
transmitted to someone when they look at an aircraft for the first time. Paint makes a statement about the
aircraft and the person who owns or operates it. The paint scheme may reflect the owner’s ideas and
color preferences for an amateur-built aircraft project, or it may be colors and identification for the
recognition of a corporate or air carrier aircraft.t
Paint is more than aesthetics; it has the following affects;
▪ It increases the weight of the aircraft.
▪ Paint also improves the physical appearance pf the aircraft i.e., it gives the aircraft
beautiful looks.
▪ It protects the integrity of the airframe i.e.; the topcoat finish is applied to protect the
exposed surfaces from corrosion and deterioration.
▪ Also, a properly painted aircraft is easier to clean and maintain because the exposed surfaces
are more resistant to corrosion and dirt, and oil does not adhere as readily to the surface.
A wide variety of materials and finishes are used to protect and provide the desired appearance of the
aircraft. The term “paint” is used in a general sense and includes primers, enamels, lacquers, and the
various multipart finishing formulas.
Primer – primer or undercoat is a preparatory coating put on materials before painting. Priming ensures
better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for
the material being painted (corrosion inhibition).
Enamels - Enamel paint is a paint that air-dries to a hard, usually glossy, finish, used for coating surfaces
that are outdoors or otherwise subject to hard wear or variations in temperature. Enamel paint is defined
more by its qualities than by its content. In the broadest sense, enamel paint means any solvent-based
paint that dries to a hard, vitreous-like (or, glass-like) shell. Solvent-based paints are also called oil-based
paints, in contrast with water-based paints.
Lacquers - Lacquer paint is a colored or colorless paint and/or a process, known for its high gloss, mostly
applied to wooden or laminate surfaces. Lacquer paint is the name of the completely covering painting
process so that there is no wood grain or pattern.
Paint has three components:
▪ Resin as coating material,
▪ Pigment for color,
▪ Solvents to reduce the mix to a workable viscosity.
, Internal structure and unexposed components are finished to protect them from corrosion and
deterioration. All exposed surfaces and components are finished to provide protection and to present a
pleasing appearance.
Decorative finishing includes
▪ Trim striping,
▪ The addition of company logos and emblems,
▪ Application of decals, identification numbers, and letters.
2.2 FINISHING MATERIALS:
A wide variety of materials are used in aircraft finishing. Some of the more common materials and their
uses are described in the following paragraphs.
Acetone - Acetone is a fast-evaporating colorless solvent. It is used as an ingredient in paint, nail polish,
and varnish removers. It is a strong solvent for most plastics and is ideal for thinning fiberglass resin,
polyester resins, vinyl, and adhesives. It is also used as a superglue remover. Acetone is a heavy-duty
degreaser suitable for metal preparation and removing grease from fabric covering prior to doping. It
should not be used as a thinner in dope because of its rapid evaporation, which causes the doped area to
cool and collect moisture. This absorbed moisture prevents uniform drying and results in blushing of the
dope. Blushing and blooming in paint are usually described as the appearance of a whitish substance on a
surface of varnish or enamel.
Alcohol - Butanol, or butyl alcohol, is a slow-drying solvent that can be mixed with aircraft dope to
retard drying of the dope film on humid days, thus preventing blushing. A mixture of dope solvent
containing 5 to 10 percent of butyl alcohol is usually sufficient for this purpose. Butanol and ethanol
alcohol are mixed together in ratios ranging from 1:1 to 1:3 to use to dilute wash coat primer for spray
applications because the butyl alcohol retards the evaporation rate.
Benzene - Benzene is a highly flammable, colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It is a product used in some
paint and varnish removers. It is an industrial solvent that is regulated by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) because it is an extremely toxic chemical compound when inhaled or absorbed through
the skin. It has been identified as a Class A carcinogen known to cause various forms of cancer. It should
be avoided for use as a common cleaning solvent for paint equipment and spray guns.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) - Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), also referred to as 2-Butanone, is a highly
flammable, liquid solvent used in paint and varnish removers, paint and primer thinners, in surface
coatings, adhesives, printing inks, as a catalyst for polyester resin hardening, and as an extraction
medium for fats, oils, waxes, and resins. Because of its effectiveness as a quickly evaporating solvent,
MEK is used in formulating high solids coatings that help to reduce emissions from coating operations.
Persons using MEK should use protective gloves and have adequate ventilation to avoid the possible
irritation effects of skin contact and breathing of the vapors. Methylene Chloride Methylene Chloride is a
colorless, volatile liquid completely miscible with a variety of other solvents. It is widely used in paint
strippers and as a cleaning agent/degreaser for metal parts.
Toluene - Referred to as toluol or methylbenzene, toluene is a clear, water-insoluble liquid with a distinct
odor similar to that of benzene. It is a common solvent used in paints, paint thinners, lacquers, and
adhesives. It has been used as a paint remover in softening fluorescent-finish, clear-topcoat sealing
materials. It is also an acceptable thinner for zinc chromate primer. It has been used as an anti-knocking
