What ceramic coatings do on aircraft
Aviation-grade ceramics bond to clear-coat and provide UV protection, hydrophobic shedding, and resistance to bug acids and jet exhaust. They do not replace paint protection film, but they dramatically reduce wash frequency and brightwork oxidation.
The application stages
A real ceramic job is multi-stage: decontamination, paint correction (often the longest phase), IPA wipe-down, base coat, top coat, infrared cure, and 24-48 hour quarantine. Each stage gets a photo log.
Warranty tracking
Coatings carry warranties (typically 2-5 years). Track start date, duration, and reapplication windows per aircraft. SparrowHawk's Ceramic Coating CRM does this automatically.
Pricing benchmarks
Light singles: $2,500-$5,000. Mid-jets: $6,000-$12,000. Heavy jets: $15,000-$25,000. Prep time is the dominant cost driver.
Key takeaways
- ›Coatings are about UV, hydrophobicity, and reduced wash cycles.
- ›Prep time, not coating product, drives cost.
- ›Photo logs per stage protect warranty claims.
- ›Track warranty start, duration, and renewal per aircraft.