Ceramic Coating at Sion (LSGS)
Multi-year paint protection and brightwork sealing for super-midsize to ultra-long-range jets at an Alpine gateway.
Ceramic Coating at Sion serves flight departments and charter operators flying into the Valais ski resorts who want to lock in paint condition for two or three years. The work happens inside a hangar—Signature's 67,200-square-foot facility or Alpinejet's storage hangar—so weather never interrupts the decontamination, correction, application, and cure cycle. The aircraft arrives, we decontaminate the paint, correct any oxidation or marring, apply two layers of ceramic to the fuselage and nacelles, seal the brightwork and windows, then hand back a maintenance plan and warranty document. The process takes three to six days, and the result is a hydrophobic shell that sheds contaminants, resists de-icing fluid, and cuts every future turnaround wash by twenty or thirty minutes.
07/25 · 2000 m, 07/25 GRASS · 660 m
AIP and airport data1582 ft
Aerodrome administration APR-SEP 05:00Z to end of daylight (max 18:00Z), OCT-MAR 07:00Z to end of daylight (max 19:00Z); FBOs staffed 07:00-20:00 local in summer and 08:00 to nightfall in winter
No night operations: the aerodrome closes at the end of daylight (latest 18:00Z summer / 19:00Z winter); flights outside administration hours need special permission (PPR) and services are on request2.5 km
Sion city centre2 on the airport
independent, no affiliationWhat changes at Sion?
The airport sits at 1,582 feet in the Rhône Valley, with a 2,000-metre paved runway (07/25) and a 660-metre grass strip. Two handling agents operate here—Signature Flight Support at Chemin Lambien 12 and Alpinejet Handling SA at Route des Ronquoz 146—and both offer hangar storage for aircraft up to 77,000 kilograms. Customs and immigration are on site during aerodrome administration hours, which run from 05:00 Zulu to the end of daylight in summer (maximum 18:00 Zulu April through September) and 07:00 Zulu to nightfall in winter (maximum 19:00 Zulu October through March). There are no night operations; any flight outside those windows needs prior permission and services by special request.
For ceramic work, the compressed daylight window matters less than hangar availability. The aircraft spends the entire three to six days indoors, so Alpine weather—snow squalls, valley cloud, temperature swings—never touches the uncured coating. The airport is 2.5 kilometres from Sion city centre, and the ski-season peak from December to March means FBO hours shorten to 08:00 local until nightfall. Plan the delivery and collection slots early; winter traffic is heavy, and hangar space books out weeks ahead.
Why ceramic after correction rather than straight over the paint?
Ceramic locks in whatever sits beneath it. If the paint carries embedded brake dust, exhaust soot, or light oxidation, the coating seals those defects for the next two years. We decontaminate with a clay treatment and chemical wash, then machine-correct any marring or haze so the surface reads clean under a paint-depth gauge and a spotlight. Only then do we lay the first ceramic layer.
Brightwork receives the same preparation: we polish the leading edges, nacelle lips, and any stainless or aluminium trim to remove corrosion and staining, then apply ceramic. Windows get a separate hydrophobic treatment. The result is a uniform, glass-like finish across paint, metal, and glass, and every panel sheds water in the same way. Skipping correction saves a day but costs you gloss and durability; the coating will fail early over contaminated paint, and the warranty becomes void.
How does the work fit around a ski-season schedule?
Most operators bring the aircraft to Sion in November, before the Christmas rush, or in late March and April when the season tapers. Three to six days out of service is easier to absorb when the charter calendar has gaps. If the jet runs a tight rotation through Crans-Montana, Verbier, and Zermatt all winter, we coordinate with your handler to block hangar time during a planned maintenance window or a crew-rest break.
The cure cycle cannot be shortened: each ceramic layer needs controlled temperature and humidity, and we will not roll the aircraft out into freezing valley air until the coating has fully cross-linked. Rushing the process leaves soft spots that attract dirt and fail under the first de-icing fluid spray. Alpinejet and Signature both understand the rhythm of ski-season operations, and they will arrange airside ramp access and hangar moves around your slot. We deliver a finish schedule the day the aircraft arrives, and we update you each evening with progress photographs and the next day's plan.
What does ceramic do against de-icing fluid and winter grime?
Type I and Type IV fluids are glycol-based and sticky by design; they cling to the wing and fuselage to prevent ice formation during taxi and takeoff. On untreated paint, the residue bakes on under ground-power heat or sunlight, and it takes a strong alkaline wash and scrubbing to remove it. Ceramic's hydrophobic layer means the fluid beads and runs off during the post-flight rinse, and what little remains wipes away with a damp microfibre cloth.
Winter grime—road salt thrown up by ground vehicles, soot from APU exhaust in cold starts, carbon streaks from the auxiliary heater—also struggles to bond to a ceramic surface. A rinseless wash between flights keeps the fuselage clean, and the annual or six-month detail becomes a light polish rather than a full correction. Over two or three years, you save dozens of labour hours and reduce the need for aggressive chemicals that would otherwise strip wax or single-stage sealants. The coating pays for itself in lower recurring costs and longer paint life.
Do you provide a maintenance plan and warranty?
Yes. Before the aircraft leaves, you receive a printed maintenance plan that lists the recommended wash interval (usually every four to six weeks, depending on flight hours and operating environment), the products to use, and the steps that will void the warranty. The warranty itself covers coating failure—peeling, hazing, loss of hydrophobic effect—for two years, provided you follow the maintenance plan and avoid abrasive or acidic cleaners.
We also hand over a photo report: before-and-after images of each panel, paint-depth readings at a dozen test points, and close-ups of the brightwork and windows. The report goes into the aircraft's tech log or your digital maintenance file, and it serves as a baseline for the next detail. If you bring the jet back in two years for a re-coat, we compare the new readings to the originals and adjust the correction process accordingly. The documentation is part of the service, not an extra, and it takes about an hour to compile on the final day.
Can ceramic be applied at Sion in summer, or only in winter?
We work year-round. Summer has two advantages: longer daylight (aerodrome administration runs until 18:00 Zulu, and FBOs staff until 20:00 local) and stable hangar temperatures, which speed the cure. Winter's shorter window—08:00 local to nightfall from October to March—means we lose an hour or two of working light each day, but the hangar environment remains controlled, and the coating cures just as well at five degrees as at twenty.
Summer does bring one wrinkle: the airport is a gateway to the Valais resorts, but it also serves leisure traffic and the occasional Air Force alternate movement. Hangar space can be tighter in July and August than in January. If you plan a summer ceramic job, confirm hangar availability with your handler four to six weeks ahead, and consider scheduling around any local events or air shows that might congest the ramp. The work itself is identical in either season; only the logistics and light change.
Questions operators ask about Ceramic Coating at Sion
How long does Ceramic Coating take at Sion?
Three to six days in the hangar, depending on aircraft size and paint condition. The aircraft remains indoors for the entire cycle: decontamination and correction on day one or two, first ceramic layer and cure on day two or three, second layer and final cure on day four or five, then brightwork and windows on the last day. Larger jets or heavily oxidised paint push the schedule toward six days; a well-maintained super-midsize in good condition may finish in three.
Which handling agents at Sion offer hangar space for ceramic work?
Signature Flight Support and Alpinejet Handling SA both provide hangar storage. Signature operates a 67,200-square-foot hangar at Chemin Lambien 12, and Alpinejet offers hangar storage at Route des Ronquoz 146. Both can accommodate aircraft up to 77,000 kilograms. Hangar access is arranged through your handler, and we coordinate the aircraft move, power, and lighting with them.
Does the coating protect against de-icing fluid residue?
Yes; Type I and IV fluids bead and rinse off rather than baking onto the paint. The hydrophobic layer prevents glycol-based fluids from bonding to the fuselage. After a de-icing spray and flight, a quick rinse or rinseless wash removes nearly all residue. Without ceramic, the same fluid would require hot water, alkaline degreaser, and scrubbing, which over time dulls the paint and strips any wax or polish.
Can I schedule ceramic work during the ski season?
Yes, but book hangar space early; winter traffic peaks from December through March. Most operators choose November or late March to avoid the busiest charter weeks. If you need the work done mid-season, coordinate with your handler to block three to six consecutive days when the aircraft is off the flight schedule. Hangar availability tightens in winter, so confirm the slot four to six weeks ahead.
What happens if the aircraft needs to leave before the coating cures?
It cannot; moving the aircraft outdoors before full cure will damage the coating and void the warranty. Each ceramic layer requires controlled temperature and humidity for twelve to twenty-four hours. If the jet is rolled onto a cold ramp or into rain before cross-linking completes, the coating will remain soft, attract dirt, and fail within weeks. We will not release the aircraft until the final cure is confirmed, and we build contingency time into every schedule.
Do you provide a warranty and maintenance plan?
Yes; a two-year warranty and a printed maintenance plan are included. The warranty covers coating failure—peeling, hazing, or loss of hydrophobic effect—for two years, provided you follow the wash intervals and product recommendations in the maintenance plan. You also receive a photo report with before-and-after images, paint-depth readings, and close-ups of brightwork and windows, filed in the tech log or your digital maintenance records.
Does Sion's altitude or Alpine weather affect the ceramic process?
No; the work happens entirely indoors in a controlled hangar environment. The airport sits at 1,582 feet in the Rhône Valley, and winter can bring snow squalls and valley cloud, but the aircraft never leaves the hangar during the three to six days of work. Temperature, humidity, and lighting are controlled, so the coating cures correctly regardless of the weather outside. The only weather consideration is scheduling your arrival and departure slots around daylight-only operations.
How often should ceramic be re-applied?
Every two to three years, ideally after a repaint or a Complete Detail. The coating's hydrophobic effect and UV resistance degrade gradually over twenty-four to thirty-six months, depending on flight hours, operating environment, and wash frequency. Most operators re-coat at the two-year mark or when they notice water no longer beading on the fuselage. If the paint has been corrected and sealed properly, the second application takes less time than the first.
Can ceramic be applied to brightwork and windows as well as paint?
Yes; we coat polished brightwork and treat windows with a separate hydrophobic layer. Leading edges, nacelle lips, and stainless or aluminium trim are polished to remove corrosion and staining, then sealed with the same ceramic used on paint. Windows receive a dedicated hydrophobic treatment that sheds water and reduces bug strikes. The result is a uniform finish across every exterior surface, and all panels clean at the same rate.
What are Sion's operating hours, and do they affect the ceramic schedule?
The aerodrome closes at nightfall (18:00Z summer, 19:00Z winter), but hangar work continues regardless. Aerodrome administration runs from 05:00 Zulu to the end of daylight in summer and 07:00 Zulu to nightfall in winter, with no night operations. FBOs staff 07:00 to 20:00 local in summer and 08:00 to nightfall in winter. Because the ceramic work happens entirely indoors, the daylight curfew does not interrupt the process; it only affects your arrival and departure slots, which must fall within published hours or be arranged as prior-permission-required movements.