WA-Newsletter for JULY 2008

photo of aircraft windshield and happy pilot

Aircraft Windshield Care and Maintenance
Most aircraft windshields and windows are acrylic plastic (commonly called Plexiglass), which is soft and scratchable. Proper care includes identifying the type of scratch, cleaning, right product choice, and common sense preventions.

Identifying the types of scratches:

Surface. Minute scratches are accumulated as part of everyday life.
Shallow. These scratches are noticeable when flying toward bright or sunny conditions.
Deep. If you can feel it with your fingernail, STOP; call Woodland Aviation to fix it properly!

Prep before cleaning:

Always remove as much abrasive dirt as possible without touching the surface. Ideally this would involve flushing the surface with water and allowing the accumulated bug residue to soak, possibly with a little dish washing liquid added to the water.
If a little rubbing is needed, do it lightly with your bare hand.
After a final flushing with more water, carefully dry with a clean soft cloth, then use a good grade cleaner/polish intended for acrylic windows.
To remove masking tape residue or sticky / greasy stuff, the safest solvents are 100% mineral spirits, kerosene or isopropyl alcohol.
Use the softest cotton cloth available such as recycled diapers. These are 100% cotton flannel, and are available at yard goods stores. Another benefit is they can be washed and reused, thereby effectively recycling the material and reducing landfill materials.
Before fixing a deeper scratch with an abrasive product, think about what it will do to your windshield. Scratch removers contain more abrasives which grind down the surrounding area.
Keep in mind - some scratches are best left alone; sometimes the cure is worse than the ailment. If you are at this stage its best left to professionals (see previous bullet point).

Products:
Everyone has a favorite, but be aware of using products never meant for cleaning aircraft windows, such as glass cleaner or furniture polish. We use Meguiar's Mirror Glaze at Woodland Aviation, and believe it's one of many that work well. Cleaning products can be loosely grouped into three categories (note some products are scratch filling while others are scratch removing):

Non-abrasive cremes that have scratch filling properties.
Non-abrasive liquid sprays; may or may not have scratch filling properties.
Mildly-abrasive creams that have scratch removing properties.

Prevention:
Canopy covers and sun shields can both protect...and damage. The protection aspect is obvious, but the damage potential may not be. Canopy covers need to be fitted and cinched down tight to prevent fluttering, as well as be cleaned regularly to eliminate abrasive particle build up. Sun shields should be fitted for your aircraft; check for sharp metallic edges, especially sliding them in sloping windshields. Protect your entire investment inside and out with well-fitted and professional covers / sun shields.

Many aircraft flying today have windshields that are well over 20 years old. If properly installed and maintained, longevity is attained. When you take time to understand the material, products and the processes; the rest is easy!

If you would like to find out more about our windshield repair services, or get a list of solvents to avoid, call our Woodland Aviation customer service reps Laura or Kesty: 800-442-1333. - J.Pilot