Fleet Care Program at Graz (LOWG)
Twelve-month appearance plan for based fleets: scheduled turns, recurring interiors and fixed budgets.
The Fleet Care Program at Graz is designed for charter operators, corporate flight departments and FBOs running aircraft from LOWG on a recurring basis. Rather than booking each wash or cabin detail separately, the program builds a service calendar around your flight schedule—quick turns between legs, monthly interiors, seasonal exteriors and brightwork—with one invoice, one contact and priority crew allocation. We coordinate with MAGNUM FBO Graz to slot work between departures, and the program includes 24/7 AOG cover when an aircraft needs attention outside the calendar.
16C/34C · 3000 m
AIP and airport data1120 ft
Daily 06:00-23:30 local (Schedule Coordination Austria: summer 04:00-21:30 UTC, winter 05:00-22:30 UTC)
Night curfew 23:30-06:00 local; during the curfew only quiet aircraft per ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 3 (per Schedule Coordination Austria)9 km
Graz city centre (south)1 on the airport
independent, no affiliationWhat does the Fleet Care Program include at Graz?
The program is a twelve-month contract covering all appearance work for one or more tail numbers based at or regularly transiting LOWG. Each aircraft receives a service calendar built around your flight schedule: quick dry washes or rinseless turns between legs, monthly cabin detailing, quarterly exterior polishing and brightwork restoration as the seasons demand. Every visit generates a service history entry and photographs, so you have a record for audits or pre-purchase inspections.
You work with a single point of contact throughout the year. Invoicing is consolidated to a fixed monthly budget per tail, which makes forecasting straightforward for finance teams. If an aircraft goes AOG or a charter leg brings an unscheduled overnight, the program includes priority crew allocation and 24/7 cover—no need to negotiate rates or availability at three in the morning. At the end of each quarter we sit down with your operations team for an appearance review: what's working, what the paint needs, whether the cabin materials want a different protocol.
How does recurring work differ from one-off visits at Graz?
One-off cleans are reactive: the aircraft arrives, you call the handler, we slot a crew between other commitments, and the scope is whatever the tech log or the passengers demand that day. Recurring work inside a fleet program is proactive. We know your tail numbers, we know the typical turnaround time, and we know that the left-hand galley panel scratches easily or that the cockpit glass needs anti-static treatment every four weeks. The service calendar anticipates those needs, so the crew arrives with the correct materials and the handler has reserved apron time.
Operationally, this means shorter ground time. A quick turn under the program takes thirty to forty-five minutes because the crew is already airside and the handler expects us. For a one-off visit, add coordination time: security escort, ramp access, possibly a wait if another aircraft is on the stand. The program also locks in crew availability. During high season or when an airshow floods the FBO, one-off requests queue behind contract work. If your aircraft is in the program, it moves to the front of that queue.
What changes at Graz that affect the program?
Graz sits at 1120 feet elevation, 9 kilometres south of the city centre, with a single runway—16C/34C, 3000 metres—and daily operating hours from 06:00 to 23:30 local. A night curfew runs from 23:30 to 06:00, though quiet aircraft meeting ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 3 standards may operate during those hours. MAGNUM FBO Graz provides general aviation handling and opens 06:00 to 23:30 local, matching the airport window. Graz is an IATA Level 2 airport: scheduled and charter flights require facilitation, but business jets under General Aviation codes D and N are exempt—no slot coordination needed, which simplifies last-minute schedule changes within the program.
The late-evening window until 23:30 is operationally useful. If an aircraft lands at 21:00, we have two and a half hours for a cabin detail or a rinseless exterior before the curfew. Seasonally, winter brings cold-soaked wings and the need for Type I or Type IV fluid; we schedule pre-flight decon and checks around holdover times. Summer heat and UV exposure at this elevation accelerate oxidation on single-stage paint, so the program shifts exterior polish frequency from quarterly to every eight weeks between May and September. The handler coordinates GPU and stand access; we bring our own water and waste capture to comply with apron rules.
How do you schedule work around our flight operations?
At the start of the twelve months, we build the service calendar from your typical flight schedule: departure slots, average turnaround times, overnight patterns, maintenance windows. The calendar is a living document—we update it whenever your operations change. If a charter leg moves from Tuesday to Wednesday, we move the cabin detail. If an aircraft goes into scheduled maintenance for a week, we pause the calendar and resume when it returns to service.
For quick turns—dry wash, glass, cabin tidy—we coordinate with the handler to position the crew as soon as the aircraft is on stand and the passengers have disembarked. Work begins while refuelling is under way, so both finish together and the aircraft is ready for the next leg. Monthly interiors and quarterly exteriors require longer ground time, typically four to six hours depending on cabin size and exterior condition. We schedule those during known overnights or days when the aircraft is not flying. If your schedule is unpredictable—common in charter operations—the program's 24/7 cover means we adapt in real time rather than deferring work to the next visit.
What does climate at Graz do to the aircraft?
Graz has a continental climate: cold winters with occasional snow and ice, warm summers with strong UV, and enough rain year-round to leave water spots if the aircraft sits unwashed for more than a fortnight. In winter, de-icing fluid residue and road salt from apron traffic accumulate on the belly and gear bays; if not removed promptly, salt accelerates corrosion on aluminium components and dulls brightwork. The program schedules post-winter decon in March or April—a thorough belly wash, gear-bay flush and nacelle clean—to remove the season's deposits before they etch the metal.
Summer heat and UV exposure fade cabin materials and oxidise paint, especially on the upper fuselage and winglets where the sun hits hardest. We increase the frequency of hydrophobic sealant application during summer months, because the coating degrades faster under UV. Inside the cabin, leather and Alcantara dry out; the monthly interior includes conditioning treatments to prevent cracking. Autumn brings leaf debris and organic staining on the apron, which transfers to tyres and gear doors. A rinseless wash after each flight keeps that material from sitting on the paint overnight, when dew locks it in place and makes removal harder.
Who manages the relationship with the handler at Graz?
We do. The handler—MAGNUM FBO Graz—is the gatekeeper for apron access, stand allocation, GPU supply and security escort. Under the Fleet Care Program, we establish a standing protocol with the FBO at the start of the twelve months: which stands we use, how we request airside passes for the crew, how the FBO notifies us when your aircraft is inbound, and how we communicate if a service needs to be moved or extended. The handler knows we are a third-party crew working under contract with your flight department, and they expect us to follow their ramp procedures to the letter.
You do not coordinate between us and the FBO for routine visits—that is part of the service. If an aircraft diverts, or if a schedule change affects stand availability, we liaise with the handler to find a solution and then inform you of the revised plan. The FBO invoices you separately for handling fees; our invoice covers only the appearance work. This separation keeps the financial relationship clean and ensures that if a handling issue arises—delayed stand assignment, for example—it does not cascade into confusion over who is responsible for what.
Questions operators ask about Fleet Care Program at Graz
Can we add or remove aircraft from the program mid-year?
Yes, the contract adjusts to reflect the new tail count and the monthly budget changes accordingly. If you acquire another aircraft or retire one from the fleet, we amend the service calendar and recalculate the fixed monthly budget. The change takes effect from the following month, so there is no retroactive billing. If you add an aircraft mid-contract, we build its service history from that point forward.
What happens if an aircraft is away from Graz for several weeks?
We pause the calendar for that tail and resume when it returns; the monthly budget adjusts pro rata. If an aircraft deploys to another base or goes into long-term maintenance, we pause its service calendar and adjust the invoice to reflect the time away. When the aircraft returns to LOWG, the calendar resumes. This ensures you only pay for work actually performed, not for months when the aircraft was not available.
Does the program cover work at other airports if our aircraft transits?
No, the Fleet Care Program is specific to Graz; transit work at other airports is billed separately. The program covers all appearance work at LOWG. If your aircraft requires a cabin detail or exterior wash while transiting another airport in Europe, we can arrange that as a separate service and invoice it outside the program. Some operators pair the Graz program with similar contracts at their other regular bases.
How do you handle AOG requests under the program?
AOG calls receive priority crew allocation and 24/7 response; we coordinate with the handler and arrive as soon as airside access is granted. If an aircraft goes AOG and needs immediate attention—hydraulic fluid spill, bird strike, or a cabin issue that grounds the flight—you call the program contact number any time, day or night. We dispatch a crew to LOWG, coordinate security escort with MAGNUM FBO, and begin work as soon as the aircraft is accessible. AOG cover is included in the monthly budget; no surcharge.
What is included in the quarterly appearance review?
A sit-down with your operations team to review service history, paint condition, cabin wear and any protocol changes needed. Every three months we meet—in person at Graz or by video—to go through the service records, photographs and observations from the crew. We discuss paint oxidation trends, cabin material wear, any recurring issues like galley scratches or lavatory staining, and whether the cleaning protocols need adjustment. The review also covers upcoming seasonal work, such as pre-winter decon or summer brightwork.
Can we request specific cleaning products or protocols?
Yes, if your OEM manual or your own standards require particular products, we incorporate them into the program. Some operators have brand preferences or OEM requirements for cabin materials—certain leather conditioners, pH-neutral glass cleaners, anti-static treatments for avionics. At the start of the program, we document those requirements and ensure the crew carries the specified products. If a new requirement emerges mid-year, we update the protocol and the crew's kit.
How does invoicing work for the Fleet Care Program?
One consolidated invoice per month covering all tails in the program, with a fixed budget per aircraft. You receive a single invoice at the end of each month, listing each tail number and the work performed. The amount is fixed unless you have added or removed aircraft or requested work outside the standard calendar, in which case those changes are itemised separately. This structure simplifies budget forecasting and reduces administrative overhead for your finance team.
What happens at the end of the twelve months?
The program renews automatically unless you notify us thirty days before expiry; we review terms and adjust the calendar if needed. Sixty days before the contract ends, we contact you to discuss renewal. If your fleet size or flight schedule has changed, we adjust the service calendar and monthly budget accordingly. If you choose not to renew, the program concludes at the twelve-month mark and any future work at Graz is billed as one-off visits. Most operators renew because the program's predictability and priority access justify the commitment.
Do you carry insurance for third-party work on the ramp at Graz?
Yes, we carry public liability and professional indemnity insurance covering all work at LOWG and across Europe. Our insurance includes coverage for damage to aircraft, injury to personnel and third-party liability on the apron. The handler, MAGNUM FBO Graz, requires proof of insurance before granting airside access; we provide that documentation at the start of the program. Certificates of insurance are available to your flight department or your broker on request.
Can the program include decon or anti-icing as part of the calendar?
Yes, seasonal decon and pre-flight anti-icing checks are included if they are part of your regular operational needs. If your aircraft routinely requires post-winter decon to remove de-icing fluid residue and road salt, or if you want pre-flight checks for ice and snow during winter months, we build those tasks into the service calendar. Anti-icing fluid application itself—Type I or Type IV—is performed by the handler under their de-icing certification, but we coordinate the timing and perform the post-application inspection and clean-up as part of the program.