Aircraft cleaning the right way

PS: The Preventive Maintenance Monthly, August, 2004

Mechanics, washing your aircraft's exterior with just any old type of cleaner is not authorized.

"Have it your way" is not the way to clean your bird. Never use unapproved industrial cleaners, detergents and degreasers (including Simple Green) that haven't been tested and approved by the Army.

Some unapproved cleaners have a "citrus" product name and contain a compound called "D-Limonene," which often has as citrus scent.

Commercial cleaners have failed Army performance tests and are not approved for use. Using them to wash your bird can cause corrosion when runoff is trapped in nooks and crannies. These cleaners will also reduce strength in steel, make alloys brittle, degrade canopy transparencies and damage painted surfaces and cadmium plating.

If you've already used any unapproved cleaners, thoroughly wash your bird with fresh water and an approved Army aircraft cleaning agent.

Your airframe maintenance manuals list them. Follow that cleaning with a corrosion inspection and treatment and an application of an approved corrosion preventive compound as identified in your -23 TMs and Chapter 3 and Appendix D of TM 1-1500-344-23, Aircraft Weapon System Cleaning and Corrosion Control (May 96).

Finally, check the info in maintenance information message GEN-MIM-03-007 (Aug 03). Make sure that all cleaning, lubricating and preserving products used on your aircraft are listed in your TMs or are otherwise approved by the Army.

If you're not sure about a product, contact your local AMCOM logistics assistance rep at the LAO. Or contact Thomas Issacs at DSN 861-3414, ext 231, (361) 961-2000 ext 231 or email:

tisaacs@amcom-cc.army.mil

An alternate POC is Herb Goode at DSN 861-3414, ext 233, commercial (361) 961-2000, ext 233 or email:

hgoode@amcom-cc.army.mil