Airplane Washes

[Joshrk22]

Anybody do this or used to do this? I recently quit my job from Krogers because I was losing $500 a year in union dues and I only made around $1,000 total there, so I said forget it.

I'm 17 years old working on my PPL so obviously I need a job. I'm at about 20 hours right now and I have about 10-15 hours saved, but I need a job to finish the last few. So I figured I'd do airplane washes at the local airport.

Can anybody give me any insight on this? How much should I charge? What should I use to clean?

I figured I could make some money and be around something that I love at the same time. It'd be great for getting contacts for the future, also.

Thanks

 

[Hawker800]

Get with those who have done this. One has to be careful not to use the wrong cleaners and stuff. Windshields especially. Charge according to the size of the aircraft. One midsize jet can take up most of the day. At 17 yrs old you may have trouble getting work. I say this because of liability reasons. If you damage one of these things it can get mighty expensive very fast.
Anyway I wish you all the best.

 

[Pattern-Master]

Once you are 18 go and get a job at your local FBO as a lineman. You will meet a lot of people and you can start networking around to wash local based airplanes on the side. I went this same route 12 years ago and was making more money then I am now as a regional FO. You will also gain excellent experience working around the airport more than you will learn in college!

 

[Magic1872]

but don't skip out on the college part!!

 

[BGSM]

another idea

check with the FBO your flying with , they may trade out for washing the planes cleaning up etc. Also stick with the smaller planes singles and light twins starting out. if the FBO thing is not an option

 

[Joshrk22]

Well right now I'm flying with an instructor in the CAP so I can't really do that. I did email the manager at the local FBO and he said I have to be 18. I'm going to call the local flight school and see what they have to say. Anybody know the manager at AvFlight Flint or American Wings Academy?

 

[Photoflight]

I looked into it a while back and the insurance was the killer so i decided against it.

Of course it may not be a big deal if its a small airport and your washing grandpa joe's 172 instead of some places g5.

Not sure where you live but starbucks payed for a decent chunk of my flight training, even got insurance and they started doing tuition assistance.

 

[ackattacker]

It's important to have the appropriate cleaners. For most of the plane you can use regular auto soap but for the propellers you need some good heavy duty prop wash. You might want to ask around at the FBO to see if they have any real good prop wash you can use.

 

[Joshrk22]

Not sure if there are any starbucks around here or not. I was working at Krogers but then I found out they didn't take out enough in taxes so I had to pay a pretty big lump sum ($150 I owed), and then I got sick of the union dues.... They were taking out $500 dollars a year, downright rediculous for a high school student that only made $1,300 a year max. The pay sucked $5.91 with no raises; I figured it out, after everything was taken out, I made $3.90 an hour. My brother's first day at A&W, he was making $7+.

 

[j41driver]

You might want to ask around at the FBO to see if they have any real good prop wash you can use.

:beer:

 

[670X]

Do not ask about prop wash, if we are not there to witness it, the joke is worthless.
The guy here gets 1,100.00 per Citation V. That takes him 8 hours and includes inside and out. You will work your azz off to make it look right.Plus you need insurance, try getting that for a Jet.
Most FBO's charge for this service and just pay a line guy to do it.
I looked into it and found out most airplane owners are tighter than bark on a tree.
Good luck but pizza delivery includes tax free tips...and sometimes other things that are worth more...if ya know what I mean.

 

[CitationXDriver]

I gonna have to second the become a lineguy advice. It is absolutely amazing the number of good contacts you can make doing it. Also I think many operators will look at the quality of work you do as a lineguy, and will be more open to taking you up on an offer to wash the airplane. I think just some random 17 year old knocking on your door offering to wash the airplane would be a tough sell for most outfits. If you plan on doing aviation as a career, the contacts made as a lineguy can be invaluable, its what allowed me to start sitting right seat in a king air at 300 hours, which lead to a part time king air job, which lead to a full time king air job, which lead....well you get the picture. Just go out there, work hard, be safe, do a little chit chatting and you will be set.

 

[414Flyer]

Not sure where you live but starbucks payed for a decent chunk of my flight training, even got insurance and they started doing tuition assistance.

Hmm wonder if that includes a type rating..haha

Working at an airport is a great way to make contacts, it was what I did to get my ratings. I did it part 61, did line service, came out of it debt free.

 

[oldxfr8dog]

I approached an airplane dealer when I was getting my PPL and offered to trade washing for flying. It worked out well. Be sure to use gloves: It's amazing how many sharp edges there are!