Ceramic Coating at Catania Fontanarossa (LICC)

What changes at Catania Fontanarossa?

Catania Fontanarossa sits at 39 feet elevation, four kilometres from the city centre, with a single 2,560-metre runway serving the busiest airport in Sicily. It is fully slot-coordinated—business aviation operations need slots arranged through the handling agent present at the airport—so the hangar booking and arrival time must align with your slot window.

Mount Etna introduces a recurring complication: volcanic ash periodically forces short closures or diversions, and fallout on parked aircraft is a common cleaning issue. An X-band radar monitors ash clouds, but even light fallout leaves a fine abrasive layer that should not be wiped dry. If your aircraft arrives with ash on the paint, we wet-rinse it completely before beginning decontamination; the ceramic coating itself will later make ash removal far easier during routine washes.

Customs and airport-of-entry facilities are available. The handler will arrange airside escort for our crew, and we coordinate hangar access, GPU supply, and any PPR requirements directly with them before your arrival.

Why apply ceramic coating rather than simply polishing the paint?

Polishing corrects oxidation and swirl marks, but it removes a thin layer of clear coat each time. Ceramic coating locks in that corrected finish with a chemically bonded layer that resists UV, de-icing fluids, and environmental contaminants for two to three years. Between washes, the hydrophobic surface sheds water and light dust, so the aircraft stays cleaner on the ramp and every future turnaround wash takes less time and less agitation.

We apply two ceramic layers to the paint and a separate formulation to brightwork and windows. The coating cures under controlled temperature and humidity in the hangar; rushing the cure or exposing the surface to rain or dust will compromise the bond. Once cured, the surface is harder than wax or sealant, and contaminants—including the volcanic ash common at Catania—release with a gentle rinseless wash rather than scrubbing.

The warranty document and maintenance plan we provide specify the wash intervals and products that preserve the coating. Follow those guidelines, and the protection remains effective until the next application cycle.

What does the handler expect when a third-party detailing crew works at Catania?

Handling agents at the airport expect clear communication about hangar occupancy, airside-pass requests, and any equipment we bring through the gate. We send the handler a list of our crew, vehicle registrations, and the equipment manifest—typically a water bowser, polishing machines, lighting rigs, and chemical containers—at least 48 hours before the slot. They arrange airside escort and confirm hangar availability, GPU hookup, and waste-water disposal points.

During the work, the handler remains the single point of contact for ramp access, slot changes, and any customs or security queries. They do not supervise the detailing itself, but they do expect the hangar to be returned clean, with no chemical residue on the floor and all waste removed in accordance with SAC environmental rules. We photograph the hangar condition before and after, and that record forms part of the final report handed to the chief pilot.

If the schedule shifts because of an ash closure or a delayed inbound flight, we notify the handler immediately so they can adjust the hangar booking and, if necessary, request a new slot. Flexibility on both sides keeps the process smooth.

How is the work documented for the tech log and the owner?

You receive three documents at the end of the job: a photo report showing paint condition before decontamination, after correction, and after ceramic application; a maintenance plan listing recommended wash intervals, approved products, and the date of the next coating cycle; and a warranty certificate specifying coverage duration and the conditions that preserve it.

The photo report includes close-ups of leading edges, nacelle inlets, winglets, and any areas where paint correction was concentrated. Those images give the next detailing crew—or an insurance surveyor—a baseline for future inspections. The maintenance plan goes into the tech log or the flight-department files; it tells line staff which wash chemicals are safe and which will strip the coating prematurely.

We also note any pre-existing paint chips, corrosion on brightwork, or damage to cabin door seals in a separate condition report. That record protects both parties and helps the chief pilot plan future maintenance visits.

What does Sicily's climate do to the coating once the aircraft leaves Catania?

Sicily's Mediterranean climate—hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters—accelerates UV degradation and salt accumulation on any aircraft based or frequently transiting the region. The ceramic coating provides a stable barrier against both. UV radiation breaks down unprotected clear coat over time, causing chalking and colour shift; the ceramic layer absorbs and dissipates that energy without oxidising.

Salt from coastal operations at Catania, Palermo, or Trapani bonds to bare paint and begins corrosion beneath the surface. The hydrophobic coating prevents salt from adhering in the first place, and a simple rinse after a coastal flight removes residual spray before it dries. If the aircraft operates frequently into volcanic-ash areas—Catania, Comiso, Reggio Calabria—the coating's hardness means ash particles do not embed in the paint during a rinseless wash; they lift away without scratching.

The coating does not eliminate the need for washing, but it extends the interval and reduces the labour. An aircraft that previously needed a full wash every two weeks may now go three or four, depending on utilisation and routing.

When should ceramic coating be scheduled in the maintenance calendar?

The ideal moment is immediately after a repaint, when the clear coat is fresh and free of defects, or after a complete detail that has already corrected any oxidation and swirl marks. Applying ceramic over damaged or contaminated paint simply locks in those flaws; the coating will not hide scratches or fill chips.

If the aircraft is midway through a paint cycle and showing early signs of oxidation or water spots, we perform a single-stage correction first—compound and polish to remove defects—then apply the ceramic. That combined process adds one day to the schedule but delivers a finish that looks close to new and stays that way for the next two years.

Avoid scheduling the work immediately before a cold-soaked ferry or a de-icing operation; the coating needs 24 hours of curing time in stable temperature before exposure to Type I or IV fluid. Plan the visit during a quieter period in the flight schedule, and coordinate with the handler so the hangar slot does not conflict with peak traffic at Catania or a forecast ash event from Etna.