Narrator: Over the course of a 20- to 30-year life span, commercial planes are completely repainted as often as every seven to 10 years, depending on the size, accumulated flight time, and the climate of the plane's route.
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Painting an aircraft white helps to reflect the sunlight, and minimize the amount of energy needed to keep the plane comfortable. Modern airplanes that are made from composite materials need even more protection from the sun as they can be damaged by UV radiation, which is another reason why white paint is used.
Green zinc chromate or zinc phosphate primer is applied to prevent corrosion on the aluminum surface. Since the anti-corrosion chemical and primer are used on all newly produced aircraft, all new aircraft look green.
The aircraft is painted in three layers of specialised technical coatings: a primer bonding coat, an anti-corrosion basecoat and the livery topcoat. The production team use a high-volume, low-pressure spray system to apply each coat in ultra-fine and even layers.
It's a constant balance between safety and efficiency. For example, by removing the mica layer previously used when painting its Boeing 737-800s, American Airlines saves nearly 300,000 gallons of fuel annually. Repainting airplanes is also an opportunity for airlines to distinguish themselves from competitors.
Until just a few years ago, wide-bodied aircraft had to be washed four times a year with foam and up to 13,000 liters of water. Today, thanks to newer cleaning agents, a resource-friendly dry wash every six months is enough. It takes between 8 and 24 hours to wash or dry wash an airliner.
The spraying of airplanes as they land is a tradition known as the “water salute.” As explained by Wikipedia, it's performed for ceremonial purposes, such as the retirement of an airplane. When an airplane makes its final flight, it's honored with the water salute once it lands on the tarmac.