Aircraft operators have slashed exterior cleaning times by up to 80 percent through the adoption of automated washing robots, according to industry experts.
The robotic systems can reduce cleaning time for wide-body aircraft like the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 from six hours to two hours.
For narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737, ground time has been cut from three hours to one hour.
Veronika Andrianovaite, Chief Commercial Officer of Nordic Dino Robotics AB, said the automated systems also significantly reduced water consumption.
“More than 30 percent of water is saved when compared to the traditional methods. A single cleaning session could consume up to 11,300 litres of water. But the innovative automated washing systems are designed to reduce water consumption by more than 80 percent, with each wash using approximately 1,800 litres of water,” she said.
The robotic cleaners have been designed to improve workplace safety by eliminating the need for ground staff to work at height during manual washing procedures.
Clean aircraft exteriors help reduce fuel consumption and operating costs while extending paint life and reducing corrosion risk.
The systems also optimise the use of cleaning chemicals, reducing environmental impact.
“While the initial investment in automated systems can be substantial, the long-term benefits – both financial and environmental – far outweigh the initial costs,” Andrianovaite said.
