Exterior Dry Wash at Lampedusa (LICD)

How does coordination work with the operator at Lampedusa?

AST Aeroservizi S.p.A. runs both the airport and all ground handling on site, so there is no separate FBO or handler. Requests for exterior dry wash go directly to the operator's office at Contrada Cala Francese, typically through your flight-planning provider or handler network. AST issues the airside escort and allocates stand time; our crew coordinates arrival with the duty supervisor once your slot is confirmed.

Because the operator manages passenger traffic, scheduled movements and apron allocation under one roof, turnaround windows are tightly controlled—especially in summer. If you are combining dry wash with a fuel stop, notify AST at PPR stage so stand occupancy and GPU availability align. The operator will also confirm whether deicing equipment or a tug is on the same apron area, which occasionally delays access to the aircraft during peak-season arrivals.

What changes at Lampedusa across the calendar year?

Lampedusa is fully coordinated (Level 3) under Assoclearance rules, and slots are required year-round even when the airport is quiet. Traffic is strongly seasonal: July and August bring intense air activity with tourism-focused scheduled and charter flights, resulting in apron congestion and short turnarounds. Expect limited stand availability, competing ground movements and pressure to vacate quickly. Winter months are the opposite—few movements, ample apron space and relaxed timing for longer detailing work.

The single runway, 08/26 at 1795 metres, sits just seventy feet above sea level. Prevailing winds are light, but scirocco events can deposit Saharan dust on airframes overnight, adding a fine abrasive layer that dry-wash products lift safely without scratching. Sea salt accumulates on leading edges, nacelles and belly panels faster here than at continental airports, and the Mediterranean sun bakes residue into paint if left for more than a week between washes.

Because the airport is half a kilometre from town, any logistical support—additional consumables, replacement microfibre cloths, decon agents—comes from our stock in Catania or Palermo, typically arriving on the same day if requested by 08:00 local.

What does the handler expect from a third-party detailing crew?

AST Aeroservizi requires advance notice of any third-party crew working airside. We carry our own airside passes for Italian airports, but the operator issues a time-limited escort document that must be signed in at the operations desk and returned on departure. The handler expects a brief safety induction if our crew has not worked Lampedusa in the previous six months, covering apron boundaries, GPU locations and emergency assembly points.

All equipment—carts, ladders, product containers—must remain within the stand markings and clear of taxiway edge lights. The operator prohibits runoff of any kind, which is why waterless dry wash is the only exterior cleaning method permitted without prior environmental clearance. If belly degreasing produces visible drips, absorbent mats must be positioned under the gear bays and collected before we leave the stand.

The handler also expects a pre-work walk-around photograph and a post-work sign-off entry available for the tech log if the captain requests it. Because AST manages both passenger and general-aviation movements, any delay or extension to the agreed window must be cleared with the duty supervisor to avoid conflict with an inbound scheduled service.

How does Mediterranean climate affect the aircraft between legs?

Lampedusa sits in the central Mediterranean, exposed to salt spray, fine dust and intense ultraviolet radiation. Even an aircraft on the ground for six hours will collect a visible haze of salt and particulate matter, especially on horizontal surfaces—wings, nacelle tops, the cheat line. Bug strikes are common on approach below two thousand feet in summer, and exhaust soot from APU run or GPU diesel units bonds quickly to aft fuselage panels in the heat.

Dry wash removes these contaminants without adding water that can seep into static ports or pitot tubes, a particular concern in a coastal environment where humidity is high and corrosion begins faster. The waterless formula leaves a light hydrophobic layer that sheds the next accumulation of salt more easily, extending the interval before the next wash is needed. Brightwork—leading edges, nacelle lips, door handles—oxidises noticeably faster here than in northern Europe; a light polish during each dry wash keeps the surface smooth and reduces drag penalties.

What timing works for a dry wash between legs at Lampedusa?

A complete exterior dry wash takes three to eight hours depending on aircraft size: a super-midsize typically four hours, an ultra-long-range six to seven. If your slot allows a four-hour turnaround and you are taking fuel, dry wash of the upper fuselage, wings and empennage can be completed while the aircraft is on GPU, leaving belly and gear work until after fuelling if the captain prefers no crew beneath the wings during that operation.

Summer slots are tight, and AST will often allocate only the minimum ground time for your declared service. If you want a full wash, request a longer slot at PPR stage or plan the work during an overnight stop when apron pressure is lower. Winter offers more flexibility: a morning arrival can sit until mid-afternoon without conflicting with other movements, giving time for a thorough belly degrease and a second pass on the nacelles if exhaust staining is heavy.

We carry task lighting for night work, but Lampedusa has no dedicated general-aviation apron lighting, so evening or early-morning washes rely on aircraft door floods and portable LED units. If your departure is before sunrise, arrange the wash the previous afternoon.

What documentation and photo report do you receive?

Every exterior dry wash closes with a digital photo report: before images showing bug strikes, soot patterns and belly grime; after images of the cleaned surfaces; and detail shots of any pre-existing paint chips, scratches or corrosion noted during the work. The report is tagged with aircraft registration, date, location and the crew member's name, and is sent as a PDF to the email address you provide at booking, typically within two hours of completion.

If the captain requests a tech-log entry, we provide a one-line statement confirming exterior cleaning with no defects observed, signed and dated. This is common for managed fleets where maintenance tracking systems require a record of all third-party work. The photo report also serves as a baseline for the next wash, showing how quickly contamination builds in your operating environment and helping you decide whether to tighten or relax the interval between services.