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19. June 2022

Aircraft washing – are robots beating manual work?

It is a clash of systems. One side is represented by the Cyprus-based Avia Solutions Group and its semi-automatic washing robot, Nordic Dino. A completely different approach is taken by Thoms Aviation from the Netherlands, which offers exterior aircraft cleaning done by hand. Both concepts have their advantages and disadvantages. It is still completely open as to who will win this race of concepts in the end. However, presumably the market is large enough for both systems to succeed.

Nordic Dino on its way to work – courtesy Avia Solutions Group
Nordic Dino on its way to work – courtesy Avia Solutions Group

On one side, a large machine with a long cantilever arm reminiscent of a deicer that clears aircraft of snow and hazardous ice crusts in winter. On the other – tiny in comparison to the cleaning Goliath - four people holding telescopic poles in their hands, with washing pads attached to the ends. At first glance, it looks like an artwork titled: “21st century meets Stone Age”.

The robotic system is well-established
An optical illusion, since both systems are in use – every day.
Yet, which aircraft cleaning option is the better one?
Jan Brunstedt, CEO of Aviator Robotics AB and the creator of Nordic Dino, is convinced that semi-automatic robots are superior to hand washing. “They ensure the quality and quickness of a full wash, cutting out bulky equipment like lifts, that can also damage aircraft body during a manual wash.” He goes on to point out that human errors come into play as well, which the robots cut out completely. Also, the number of ground staff needed to accomplish the machine-based washing job, is reduced to only one or two persons at most. In fact, the systems have proven their usefulness, otherwise they would not have been around for some 40 years already, he concludes.

Manually or mechanically – which cleaning option offers airlines the better solution? – photo: hs/CFG
Manually or mechanically – which cleaning option offers airlines the better solution? – photo: hs/CFG

Clean is beautiful
Whereas, four decades ago, aircraft were washed only twice a year, that has increased to quarterly cleaning cycles, nowadays. This is required because oil and grease splashes, which are released when the landing gear is extended, lead to smudgy films and dark layers on the underside of the fuselage of an aircraft. Once freed from this dirt crust, a jetliner consumes up to 5% less fuel due to lower air resistance. Therefore, regular washing reduces fuel costs, leads to less greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to environmental protection, Thomas de Boer, owner of Thoms Aviation, notes.
There is also a psychological aspect, especially in the case of passenger aircraft: dirty jetliners tend to evoke negative associations in passengers. If the airline is already cutting back on cleanliness, what about the safety and security regimes? This question immediately arises in the minds of some travelers when boarding a “dirty” plane. In any case, shabby exteriors do not enhance the reputation of a carrier. The same is true, although to a lesser degree, for scruffy-looking freighters, too.

Spatial requirements
When compared to cleaning aircraft by semi-automatic robotic machines, Mr. de Boer sees some significant advantages in his company's preferred traditional hand-washing method: “The Nordic Dino is a very expensive asset, not easy to operate. It uses large amounts of water and detergents, which is an increasing problem when it comes to environmental protection. It needs a hangar large enough to accommodate it, is very expensive to operate and very sensitive, too, due to its many sensors that are required to prevent an aircraft from being damaged while being washed and brushed,” Thomas de Boer summarizes. Another limiting factor is that it needs a lot of space when operating within an aircraft hangar or MRO facility, which is a prerequisite given harsh weather conditions.

Conflicting decisions
So, is it worth buying the device? Only if the big machine is used at an airport where a home carrier has based large parts of its fleet, Thomas de Boer believes. In that case, regular orders and high operating times are ensured. If not, the traditional hand washing solution to de-pollute a jetliner and render it squeaky clean and shiny again, might be the cheaper, more flexible, and convenient decision.

Heiner Siegmund


We welcome and publish comments from all authenticated users.

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Comments: 3
  • #1

    Rayhan ahmed (Monday, 20 June 2022 15:00)

    Is this not all included in
    a … C Check and D Check ??????

  • #2

    Thomas de Boer (Monday, 20 June 2022 21:24)

    Dear Mr. Ahmed,
    Yes or No included in the C and/or D checks is not relevant in this article. The article is meant what your opinion is between robotic wash with lots of water usage, high investment and high maintenance intervals or handwash with minimum use of water, simple tooling and keeping people working!
    Also the Robotic wash can only do maximum 65 to 70% of the aircraft. The rest needs done by hand also!
    The Robotic wash is great when you wash daily 2 to 3 aircraft in designated areas or hangars with closed drainage systems, then the investment could be worthwhile.

  • #3

    Rayhan ahmed (Thursday, 23 June 2022 02:22)

    Ok fine this is more of a equipment
    Seller … because after a heavy c or
    D check the aircraft might not
    Be cleaned for months to keep
    Downtime to min … and get the aircraft on max turnarounds using the same
    Aircraft on the same route ie
    London - Hong Kong for example keeping the aircraft max in the air
    Min on the ground .

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