THE $2 BILLION CORROSION PROBLEM
Why Aircraft Corrosion Deserves Attention
Corrosion is much more than an appearance problem.
In 2022, the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division reported that corrosion had cost the U.S. Navy more than $2 billion on the F/A-18 C-G fleet between 2017 and 2020 alone.
For Naval Aviation, corrosion became significant enough that the Navy identified it as one of the greatest systemic threats to fleet condition and invested in specialized cleaning, coatings, monitoring, training, and corrosion-control technologies.
For private and business aviation, the scale may be different—but the lesson is the same:
Contamination left on an aircraft eventually becomes a preservation issue, not simply a cosmetic one.
Why Florida Aircraft Require Additional Attention
Florida creates an especially demanding environment for aircraft preservation.
Salt-laden coastal air, high humidity, rain, exhaust residue, oils, bugs, organic contamination, and other environmental deposits can remain on aircraft surfaces and collect around fasteners, seams, landing gear, belly areas, and other difficult-to-clean locations.
Moisture is another consideration.
FAA corrosion guidance recognizes that moisture can enter aircraft through numerous openings and joints and identifies aircraft washing itself as one potential source of moisture intrusion. Once moisture migrates into protected or difficult-to-access areas, it may become trapped.
That is one reason the method used to clean an aircraft matters just as much as how often it is cleaned.
The JetReady Approach: Clean Without Unnecessary Saturation
At JetReady, our objective is not simply to make an aircraft look clean.
Our procedures are designed around controlled cleaning, contamination removal, material protection, and minimizing unnecessary moisture exposure.
Controlled Rinse-less Exterior Cleaning
Whenever appropriate for the aircraft and condition, JetReady utilizes a professional rinseless aircraft wash process rather than unnecessarily flooding the aircraft with water.
A rinse-less process does not mean the aircraft is cleaned without liquid.
It means we can remove surface contamination while introducing considerably less free water than a traditional high-volume rinse process.
This allows our technicians to work carefully around seams, openings, sensors, windows, antennas, control surfaces, and other sensitive aircraft areas while maintaining tighter control over the cleaning process.
Rinse-less washing should not be viewed as a replacement for aircraft corrosion inspection or maintenance.
Instead, it is part of JetReady’s philosophy of using the least aggressive process necessary to safely achieve the required result.
Controlled Interior Moisture
The same principle applies inside the cabin.
Aircraft interiors contain specialized textiles, carpets, upholstery, adhesives, finishes, electronics, and materials designed to meet aviation requirements, including applicable flammability standards.
JetReady therefore avoids unnecessary saturation, excessive heat, and aggressive cleaning methods.
When carpet extraction or shampooing is required, we utilize controlled low-moisture equipment rather than heavily saturating the carpet.
During the drying process, we also use air movement and dehumidification inside the cabin to help remove moisture and shorten the time that cleaned materials remain damp.
The objective is simple:
Clean the material effectively while introducing and retaining as little unnecessary moisture as practical.
The Wet-and-Dry Principle
Another principle built into JetReady procedures is our two-step wet-and-dry method.
When an aviation-safe cleaning product is applied to an appropriate aircraft surface, one towel is used to perform the cleaning step and a separate clean, dry towel is used immediately afterward to remove remaining product, contamination, and moisture.
We do not believe aircraft surfaces should simply be sprayed with chemical and left wet.
The cleaning process should have a controlled beginning and a controlled finish.
That philosophy applies throughout the aircraft—from painted surfaces and interior panels to many of the detailed areas that require careful hand cleaning.
Detailing Supports Maintenance—It Does Not Replace It
Professional aircraft cleaning can remove contaminants, improve visibility, preserve appearance, and help technicians and owners see the aircraft’s condition more clearly.
But detailing is not corrosion inspection, structural evaluation, or aircraft maintenance.
If corrosion, damaged coatings, compromised fasteners, unusual staining, or another maintenance concern is discovered during a JetReady service, the appropriate next step is evaluation by qualified maintenance personnel.
Our role is to help maintain a clean, controlled environment around the aircraft and support its long-term preservation.
Key Takeaway
A clean aircraft is easier to inspect, protect, and preserve—and controlling both contamination and unnecessary moisture should be part of that process.
