Exterior Dry Wash at Comiso Pio La Torre (LICB)
Waterless exterior detailing for business jets at Sicily's regional gateway—no wash bay, no runoff.
Exterior Dry Wash at Comiso Pio La Torre serves flight departments operating through Sicily's south-eastern regional airport, delivering a full waterless clean on the apron without the need for a dedicated wash bay or drainage infrastructure. The service is coordinated through SAC—the Catania airport company that absorbed Comiso's former operator in 2022—and the contracted ground handler GH Catania, whose Executive Aviation desk arranges business-aviation turnarounds. Our mobile crew brings aviation-approved rinseless products directly to the stand, removing bug residue, exhaust soot and hydraulic film from fuselage, wings, empennage and nacelles while the aircraft is between legs or overnight.
05/23 · 2538 m
AIP and airport data756 ft
5 km
Comiso town1 on the airport
independent, no affiliationHow does airside access work at Comiso Pio La Torre?
Because Comiso is managed by SAC—the same authority that runs Catania—all airside passes, vehicle permits and third-party service approvals flow through SAC's security and operations departments rather than a stand-alone Comiso office. In practice this means prior notice to SAC ops and coordination with GH Catania, the contracted handler for executive aviation at the airport. We submit crew details, vehicle registration and insurance certificates to SAC at least forty-eight hours before the slot, and GH Catania confirms stand allocation and any movement restrictions on the day.
The handler expects a fully self-contained detailing crew: our van carries all product, lighting and waste containers, so we do not require GPU hookup, water supply or apron drains. GH Catania's ramp supervisor signs us onto the stand and notes the service window in the movement log; we complete the wash, collect all waste and sign off before the next pushback or tow. If the aircraft is cold-soaked or requires an engine run after the detail, the handler schedules that separately—we simply ensure leading edges, pitot covers and static ports are clear and correctly reinstalled before we leave the stand.
What does an exterior dry wash include on a business jet?
The wash covers every external surface: fuselage from radome to tail cone, upper and lower wing skins, winglets, empennage, nacelles and the belly. We begin at the nose, working aft in overlapping sections with microfibre applicators and aviation-grade waterless cleaner, lifting bug strikes, exhaust carbon and hydraulic mist without abrading the paint. Nacelle inlets and exhaust cones receive particular attention; soot buildup around the tailpipe is degreased and wiped until the metal shows its original finish.
Exterior windows—cockpit, cabin and any observation panels—are cleaned inside the same pass, using a separate glass product to avoid streaking. Lights, antennas and small brightwork details on leading edges get a light touch-up if oxidation is minimal. The landing gear and gear bays are degreased to remove brake dust, hydraulic residue and runway grime; we do not enter wheel wells that require panel removal or tech-log entry, but everything visible from the bay opening is wiped down.
Duration ranges from three hours for a light jet to eight hours for an ultra-long-range airframe, depending on the degree of soiling and whether the belly has been neglected between washes. We recommend the service every two to four weeks for aircraft in regular operation, or immediately after a long positioning leg through turboprop altitudes where bug strikes accumulate quickly.
What changes at Comiso Pio La Torre that affects the detailing schedule?
Comiso sits at 756 feet elevation, five kilometres from Comiso town in the Sicilian interior, with a single runway—05/23, 2538 metres—that handles both scheduled regional traffic and occasional business-aviation movements. The airport is not slot-coordinated, so turnaround windows are typically more flexible than at congested hubs, but because GH Catania runs all ground services under contract to SAC, every third-party activity still requires advance coordination through the handler's ops desk.
Sicily's Mediterranean climate means strong sun from April through October, high airborne dust during sirocco events, and occasional salt haze when winds swing north off the coast. Paint oxidises faster here than in northern Europe, and any hydraulic film or exhaust residue bakes onto the nacelles within hours if the aircraft sits on the apron through midday. We schedule exterior washes either early morning or late afternoon to avoid working on sun-heated surfaces, which can flash-dry waterless product and leave streaks; if the aircraft has been on stand all day, we wait for the skin temperature to drop before starting the detail.
Because Comiso has no dedicated business-aviation terminal, the handling agent present at the airport—GH Catania—arranges all ramp services, including our access. If your aircraft is a regular visitor or part of a charter rotation through Sicily, we can establish a standing coordination with GH Catania so that each wash requires only a slot confirmation rather than a full paperwork cycle.
Why choose waterless over a traditional wash at a regional airport?
Comiso has no enclosed wash bay and limited apron drainage, so a traditional hose-and-bucket wash would require either a tow to a remote hardstand with runoff containment or a derogation from the airport authority—neither of which is practical for a quick turnaround. Waterless detailing solves the problem by encapsulating dirt in a polymer suspension that is wiped away with microfibre cloths, leaving no runoff, no standing water and no environmental-compliance paperwork.
The process is also faster and less disruptive: we work around the aircraft as it sits on stand, without requiring a tow or a dedicated wash slot. If the flight crew is completing post-flight checks or the handler is uploading catering, we simply work on the opposite side of the fuselage and coordinate our movements with the ramp supervisor. The result is a clean aircraft ready for the next leg, with no delay to the departure slot and no additional handler charges for tow or wash-bay time.
Can you handle recurring work for a fleet or charter operator at Comiso?
We do. If your operation uses Comiso as a rotation base or a regular tech stop for charter legs across Sicily, we can set up a standing wash schedule—weekly, fortnightly or triggered by flight hours—so that each aircraft receives an exterior detail without ad-hoc coordination every time. SAC and GH Catania are notified once of the recurring arrangement; thereafter we simply confirm the slot and tail number forty-eight hours before each visit.
For fleet operators, recurring work also means we learn the specific finish and trouble spots on each airframe: which nacelle collects the most soot, whether the belly accumulates hydraulic mist from a particular actuator, how the cheat line responds to waterless product. That knowledge translates into faster, more consistent detailing and fewer surprises when an aircraft comes off a long positioning leg. Invoicing consolidates to a monthly cycle, and if one wash needs to shift by a day because of weather or a schedule change, we adjust within the same coordination framework rather than starting from scratch.
What should a chief pilot tell the handler before booking a dry wash at Comiso?
Let GH Catania know that a third-party detailing crew will require airside access and stand time, and confirm how long the aircraft will be on the ground. If it is a quick turnaround—under three hours—an exterior wash may not fit; if it is an overnight or a longer stop, we can schedule the detail during a quiet window when the aircraft is not being fuelled or catered. The handler will ask for our crew names, vehicle details and insurance certificates, which we provide directly to SAC once you give us the go-ahead.
Also confirm whether the aircraft will be on GPU or APU during the wash. We do not need electrical power for the detailing itself, but if the cabin crew or cockpit crew are working inside while we clean the exterior, it is helpful to know so we can coordinate our movements around open doors and avoid any conflict with avionics that must remain untouched. Finally, if the aircraft has just come out of heavy maintenance or a paint shop and still carries protective film or masking residue, mention it—we can remove that as part of the wash, but it adds time to the job and we will bring the appropriate solvents.
Questions operators ask about Exterior Dry Wash at Comiso Pio La Torre
How far in advance do I need to book an exterior dry wash at Comiso?
Forty-eight hours is standard; seventy-two hours if it is your first visit or if the aircraft is arriving outside normal operating hours. We ask for forty-eight hours' notice so we can submit crew details to SAC and coordinate stand access with GH Catania. If your operation has not used our service at Comiso before, seventy-two hours allows time for SAC to process airside passes and insurance certificates without delaying your turnaround.
Can you wash the aircraft overnight if it arrives late?
Yes, provided the handler confirms stand availability and apron lighting. We carry portable LED work lights, so we can detail the aircraft after dark as long as GH Catania approves the overnight ramp activity and the stand is not needed for an early-morning departure. Coordination with SAC ops is still required for airside access outside daylight hours.
Do you need the aircraft on GPU or can you work with everything shut down?
We work with everything shut down; we do not require external power. The dry-wash process uses only hand applicators and microfibre cloths, so the aircraft can be fully dark. If the flight crew or cabin crew are inside during the wash, they may prefer GPU for lighting and air conditioning, but that is their choice—not a requirement for the detailing.
What happens to the waste water and dirty cloths?
There is no waste water; used microfibre cloths and product residue are collected in sealed containers and disposed of off-site. Waterless detailing produces no runoff. We collect all used cloths and any product residue in sealed waste containers that leave the apron with our van, then dispose of them at an approved facility off the airport. GH Catania and SAC see no environmental paperwork from the wash.
Can you remove heavy exhaust staining on the nacelles and tail cone?
Yes, exhaust carbon is degreased and wiped until the metal or paint shows its original finish. Nacelle interiors and tail-cone soot are a standard part of the exterior wash. We use a stronger degreaser on those areas and work the residue with dedicated applicators until the surface is clean. If the staining has etched the paint, that requires a polish or repaint—not something a dry wash can reverse.
Is the dry wash safe for freshly painted or wrapped aircraft?
Yes, the products are pH-neutral and safe for new paint, vinyl wraps and polished metal. Our waterless cleaners are formulated for aviation finishes, including fresh paint, factory wraps and anodised or polished aluminium. We avoid abrasive pressure and use separate microfibre cloths for each section to prevent cross-contamination. If the aircraft still carries masking residue or protective film from the paint shop, let us know—we can remove it, but it adds time.
Do you clean the belly and landing gear as part of the standard dry wash?
Yes, belly and gear are degreased and wiped down as part of every exterior wash. The belly, gear legs and visible gear-bay surfaces are cleaned in the same pass as the fuselage. We degrease brake dust, hydraulic mist and runway grime, but we do not enter wheel wells that require panel removal or a tech-log entry—only what is accessible from the bay opening.
Can you coordinate directly with my flight crew, or does everything go through the handler?
We coordinate with your crew on timing and aircraft-specific details; airside access still goes through GH Catania and SAC. Once GH Catania confirms the stand and access, we speak directly with your captain or flight-department ops to confirm the wash window, any no-touch areas and whether the cabin crew will be working inside. The handler remains the formal point of contact for ramp movements and security, but day-of-service coordination is between us and your crew.
What if the aircraft needs to depart earlier than planned—can you pause the wash?
Yes, we can pause and resume, or stop and invoice for the work completed if the departure cannot wait. If the slot moves up and the wash is not finished, we secure all panels, remove any product residue from control surfaces, reinstall pitot covers and step back so the handler can tow or push. If the aircraft returns later the same day, we resume without restarting the clock; if it departs for good, we invoice for the hours worked and the sections completed.
Do you offer a standing schedule for aircraft that visit Comiso regularly?
Yes, recurring visits can be set up with a single coordination to SAC and GH Catania, then confirmed per slot. If your operation uses Comiso as a rotation base or regular tech stop, we establish a standing wash schedule with SAC and the handler so that each visit requires only a slot confirmation rather than full paperwork. Invoicing consolidates monthly, and we learn the specific finish and trouble spots on your airframes over time.