FAA Approved Paint?

[mnskydiver688 0]

Hey, I am looking into painting the interior of my DZ's C182. I am wondering if there are any plane mechanics or FAA savy people out there that know if there are requirements for the type of paint used inside an airplane? Thanks.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[councilman24 37]

I know almost nothing about this... but,

Would painting the inside hide corrosion? Probably not a good idea.

Also the weight and balance will have to be calculated and made part of the paper work by an A&P, I think.

May not be worth the hassle.

I'm old for my age.
Terry Urban
D-8631
FAA DPRE

[EDYDO 0]

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Hey, I am looking into painting the interior of my DZ's C182. I am wondering if there are any plane mechanics or FAA savy people out there that know if there are requirements for the type of paint used inside an airplane? Thanks.

If there is a paint requirement, I would like to know as well. I just removed all of the trim from one, painted it and put it back. I did notice that the new interior fabric had an FAA approval.

Ed

[mnskydiver688 0]

Well the inside is hideous and since all the trim was removed what you see now is old glue and black tape. The area being covered is not too much (ceiling, and a bit of the sides). Also the color white might help keep the temp down a bit from the sun and tandems might think we are more professional. The inside just needs a bit of a face lift.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[Hooknswoop 19]

Check with an A & P. You are probably looking at having to prep the aluminum, paint it with zinc chromate as the primer and then the color you want the final paint to be.

Derek

[Broke 0]

I believe the only reasion fabric needs to be approved is because it needs to be fire retardant, other than that I haven't heard anything about paint

Divot your source for all things Hillbilly.
Anvil Brother 84
SCR 14192

[Eule 0]

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I am wondering if there are any plane mechanics or FAA savy people out there that know if there are requirements for the type of paint used inside an airplane?

The answer is probably in FAR part 43, somewhere, but you should probably get a professional opinion before you bust out the Krylon. Appendix A to part 43 has lists of things that are considered "major repairs", "major alterations", and "preventative maintenance". Painting the inside of the cabin probably falls under "preventative maintentance", as long as "removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required". 43.3.g then says that the pilot can do preventative maintenance on any aircraft he owns or operates, as long as the aircraft isn't used under part 121 (airlines), 127 (?), 129 (foreign airlines in the US), or 135 (commuter and charter). I don't _think_ jump operations fall under any of these parts but I don't know. If you aren't the pilot, though, I don't think you're officially allowed to do it.

I suspect that Hooknswoop is on the right track... the main concern is probably hiding (or causing) corrosion. Your friendly local A&P can tell you for sure.

An alternative might be to clean the old glue off of the surface, if you can do it in such a way so as not to damage the aluminum. This probably has to happen anyway if you want the paint job to look decent, but cleaning off old glue is probably easier to justify than repainting.

As I understand it, some places that paint airplanes want you to drop off the plane and a check and come back in a week, but others are more amenable to you helping. Like, you bring the plane, they hand you a pile of sandpaper and stripper and stuff, you prep it (the hard part), they shoot the paint (the easy part), you both sit around coming down off the paint-fume high, you pay them, you go home. You might also be able to work a deal as a slop-sucker... they call you when they're about to paint a Citation, you bring the 182 over, they paint the Citation and use the last two quarts to paint the inside of the 182, everybody happy. Knowing somebody at the paint place, and/or horse trading with them (find a painter who wants to do a tandem), may make this easier.

If you do end up with a sprayer in your hand, and it's anything other than a rattle-can from the hardware store, you MUST wear the right mask/respirator. Most of the fancy kinds of spray paint out there now will straighten out your DNA in 0.2 nanoseconds.

Eule

PLF does not stand for Please Land on Face.

[Scoop 0]

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If you do end up with a sprayer in your hand, and it's anything other than a rattle-can from the hardware store, you MUST wear the right mask/respirator. Most of the fancy kinds of spray paint out there now will straighten out your DNA in 0.2 nanoseconds.

Yes, please do. And also a paper suit and gloves. The nasty toxins (isocyanate for one) from the paint can also absorb through your skin.



This paint system was first used extensively during the 1970's and 1980's. The paint is extremely toxic. Isocyanate is a respiratory sensitiser so inhalation can affect breathing, with potentially fatal results. For this reason, this particular system is not normally suitable for application by DIY enthusiasts, as it requires special breathing equipment.

[crewkeith 0]

google paint mil spec then find your application. process is more defined than product. most manufactures comply with mil specs that the faa wants. if you get the whole thing painted then you will need to weigh and balance. also a factory service manual will tell you a lot too.


bsbd
keith

The skies are no longer safe

I'm back

[kallend 2,150]

Quote

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I am wondering if there are any plane mechanics or FAA savy people out there that know if there are requirements for the type of paint used inside an airplane?

The answer is probably in FAR part 43, somewhere, but you should probably get a professional opinion before you bust out the Krylon. Appendix A to part 43 has lists of things that are considered "major repairs", "major alterations", and "preventative maintenance". Painting the inside of the cabin probably falls under "preventative maintentance", as long as "removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required". .

Eule

From FAR43 Appendix A,
preventive maintenance includes:

(9) Refinishing decorative coating of fuselage, balloon baskets, wings tail group surfaces (excluding balanced control surfaces), fairings, cowlings, landing gear, cabin, or cockpit interior when removal or disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is not required.
(10) Applying preservative or protective material to components where no disassembly of any primary structure or operating system is involved and where such coating is not prohibited or is not contrary to good practices.
(11) Repairing upholstery and decorative furnishings of the cabin, cockpit, or balloon basket interior when the repairing does not require disassembly of any primary structure or operating system or interfere with an operating system or affect the primary structure of the aircraft.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

I prepped the interior of a 182 a few years ago. If you are going to do it, you should do it right. The first thing you need to do is double your budget. Now add some more. It takes a fair bit of work to get your surfaces down to aluminium, but If you don't it will cost you a lot more money sooner than you think.
The Paint stripper can be bought at LORDCO for about $20.00/gallon. You will need $200.00-$300.00. Get yourself some disposable coveralls and cover up clothes you plan on throwing away afterward. Don't forget to include a head and neck scarf. This stuff burns when it gets on your skin. Kroops work well.
Finding containers that will not melt is important and get real bristle brushes- nylon will melt. A supplied breathing apparatus is good, but if you don't have it make sure you get the right cartridges for your mask. The cartridges last about forty-five minutes; if you can smell the stuff at all it is eating your liver, change the cartridges now.
If you have a 79-95 degree dry space you paint the product on and leave it for twenty minutes, then wipe. All that glue as well as any old primer will come right off with several iterations. To get the tough stuff in the corners you need a piece of 1/4" plexiglas ground into a scraper. You will need several of these as the product will melt your scraper.
Once you have completed the task you need to give the plane to your mechanic to remove any corrosion that has developed over the years. This will take longer than you suspect and cost more than you thought but it has to be done.
The paint you use will be expensive because it needs to be as light as it can be. ENDURA is a brand that comes to mind.

Have fun

PS Make sure you have a running water source right there and have a plan for an emergency shower. I mean it when I say this stuff burns.

[DBCOOPER 5]

In my 182 I covered most of it up with Kydex,an approved plastic sheet that is used in the mfg of molded aircraft plastic parts,like the stuff around the windows in airliners.Pretty lightweight and about $80 a sheet.

Replying to: Re: Stall On Jump Run Emergency Procedure? by billvon

If the plane is unrecoverable then exiting is a very very good idea.

[mnskydiver688 0]

Well from the posts I have made an official decision. Forget it. There are few people at the DZ behind the whole idea so I guess it stays the way it is. We aren't in it too much anyway. 14-16 mins to altitude. Well thanks for all the information guys. If the decision does get made I will know where to look.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters