The Ramp Presence of your Airplane

Having a nice-looking aircraft is important, as it makes a statement about you and your airplane

The cleanliness of your airplane on the ramp is a huge first impression. We can tell the difference in the pilot from just looking at the Cessna 152 which looks like it was just detailed, and that King Air that looks like it’s been left out in the rain by the beach for a week.

A clean aircraft is one that makes you proud and gives others the impression that it was put together with care by those who know what they are doing. The opposite is equally true; an aircraft with mud, bugs, trash, and clutter gives the same impression as a car with fast food bags and soda cans rolling around inside!

Keeping your windshields and windows clean can make quite a difference for people who walk by looking at the aircraft.

When it comes to the ramp presence of your aircraft, it is important to keep the glass clean at all times. Glass is about 90% of the image that people see when looking at your aircraft, so keeping this area clean can make quite a difference for people who walk by looking at the aircraft. You don’t want someone to walk by and notice that you left streaks all over the windows.

Glass can be cleaned with a soft paper towel and a glass cleaner such as Windex. Make sure you do not use a paper towel with a rough surface because that could cause scratches on the window.

The two most common types of glass cleaners are ammonia-based (Windex) and water-based (Streak Free). Water-based cleaners do not leave as many streaks, but they also do not remove some things as well as ammonia-based cleansers.

The condition of the tires has a direct effect on the appearance of your aircraft.

Tires have a lot to do with the appearance of your aircraft, and they are typically the first thing people notice when walking by. It is important to keep them in good condition. They should be properly inflated and have no flat spots. They should have no visible damage or wear.

Tires that are worn out can be dangerous; especially if you encounter a situation where you may need to land on rough terrains such as grass or gravel. When looking at a tire from the side, there is a line molded into it which shows how much tread depth it has left – this is called “the wear bar.” If that line is even with any part of the tread on both sides of the tire (as shown below), then it needs to be replaced as soon as possible!

The engine cowlings can be inspected. It looks nice with no stains from leaking oil.

• The engine cowlings that can be inspected will be next, and they should be free of oil stains.
• Oil stains on the cowling are evidence of a leak, which is not only unsightly but also indicates the engine is likely not functioning properly.
• Any oil stains can usually be washed off with various solvents.

The condition of your main entrance door is also important.

No chipped paint or scratches should be visible if you want to maintain a good impression on those around you.

The condition of your main entrance door is also important. No chipped paint or scratches should be visible if you want to maintain a good impression on those around you.

If the door is damaged in any way, it can be fixed with only the use of a simple accessory kit consisting of touch-up pens and sprays.

The condition of the landing gear also makes a difference in the appearance of your aircraft.

Has the ground crew been keeping them well-greased? If so this will have a positive impact on how it looks to others.

As you walk around the aircraft look for any sign of leaks from the main landing gear. If there is fluid on the ground it could indicate that a seal or hydraulic line has failed. This can be dangerous as hydraulic pressure is needed to operate the flight controls, brakes and other essential systems

Take a look at your brakes. Are they overheating? If so this will show up as blue streaks around where the brake disk rubs against the brake pads.

Check to see if your brake fluid levels are low or need to be topped off. You should do this prior to every flight anyway but now you have a good reason for it! If you don’t check your brakes before every flight then what kind of pilot are you?! You should know how well your aircraft operates and landings can be hard on an airplane’s brakes so if yours aren’t in tip-top shape it’ll show as soon as someone sees them (or smells them).

Reducing wear by keeping up with maintenance schedules goes a long way towards making sure they’re always ready when needed most – during those critical moments between a touchdown and taxiing into gate space after completing an uneventful yet technically challenging approach at some remote airfield surrounded by hillsides full of trees just waiting nearby waiting patiently.