ByAnnamarieBuonocore

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By Annamarie Buonocore

Anyone who has ever owned an aircraft or been involved in aviation can agree that aircraft ownership is a big responsibility. When we think of aircraft maintenance, we often think of engine logbooks and keeping the avionics up to date. One area of maintenance that is often overlooked is bodywork and detailing. In this interview, we had the opportunity to talk with Brett Berry of Shiny Jets, a San Diego-based aircraft detailing company that has taken detailing to new heights. Brett and his staff work tirelessly to keep airplanes shining, and they have also started an educational program all about maintaining the cosmetics of aircraft. There is much to learn, and we look forward to exploring the different options available in this interview.

In Flight USA: When did you get started with Shiny Jets?

Brett Berry: I got started in this business four years ago.

IFUSA: What made you want to get into aircraft detailing?

BB: I had a previous aircraft detailing business that I started. I had it for eight years and then sold it. During my time in the industry, I noticed a lot of poor work on other aircraft. I would see things from customers’ aircraft that were terrible. There is not a lot of information on how to restore and maintain aircraft correctly.

IFUSA: What is the most common type of aircraft that you service?

BB: I would say Gulfstreams, King Airs, and Citations. More on the business jet side…

IFUSA: So you are based in San Diego. Are you at a certain airport there?

BB: Yes, we are at Palomar, Montgomery, and Gillespie. We have several locations within the San Diego area, and we also have some out-of-state locations, including Mesa, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada and Dallas, Texas.

IFUSA: Tell me a little bit about your detailing process and what sets it apart.

BB: What I run into a lot is that many detailing companies will not provide the quality job that will make their work last longer. For instance, they will compound the paint and then polish it, but when they were compounding, they did not remove all the oxidation. Aircraft paint deteriorates more than typical car paint. In six months, that paint will look chalky and ugly like it did before. Their compounds and polishes have fillers, so it looks really good in the beginning, but then the gloss wears off after a couple of washes, and it just looks old and chalky. Aircraft paint typically does not have a clear coat.

IFUSA: What advice would you give to aircraft owners?

BB: I started Shiny Jets to start educating the industry. I have done interviews on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and other social media sites to educate people with tips and tricks that they can do themselves or how they can notice when their detailing person is not doing it properly. They will notice when the mechanic uses a cloth with metal shavings in it to wipe down the aircraft, and they will see how that scratches the paint. I set out to help the industry grow and get better results. I want to preserve aircraft for longer and make the cosmetic surfaces last longer. Unfortunately, the auto industry has surpassed aviation by leaps and bounds; so many of the methods you see out there are outdated and ineffective. They should listen to our podcast, watch

Brett Berry (Courtesy Shiny Jets)

Brett Berry offers lessons and tips on aircraft detailing across several social media sources. (Courtesy Shiny Jets)

our YouTube, and take our online courses for individual services. We have a fullfledge online course on how to build an aircraft detailing business. You can also come to one of our in-person trainings. Many people learn how to detail just by watching our content.

IFUSA: What advice would you give to those who desire a career in aircraft detailing?

BB: I would say start learning how to detail cars. Work at a carwash. Even take a flight lesson to learn more about aircraft. It will give you a humbling experience. See if an aircraft detailing shop is willing to hire someone. You have to start off at the bottom, washing the bellies, etc. You have to start at the bottom so that you can move up in the company and offer that company a quality finished product. Safety is number one in aviation, and you need to show that company that you take it seriously.

IFUSA: Are you hiring? BB: Yes, we are. Contact us today.

IFUSA: Is it better to hire a service or to do it yourself?

BB: I would say that it depends on the size of the aircraft. Many pilots do it themselves. I would recommend taking my ceramic coating course online. It might be cheaper to take the course and then tinker with your plane over the weekend and do it yourself. If it is a larger jet, you will want a team to work on it to get it done faster.

IFUSA: How much does it cost to take one of your courses?

BB: Right now, our online course is $2,000. It takes about 10-12 hours to complete. You can take it at your leisure. Our in-person training is actually a hybrid course. They complete some of it at home online and then come to our headquarters. We cover light meals and lodging. We have shuttles that go to and from the airport where we detail planes for three days straight. They come in educated because they took the online course. Now they’re just doing the hands-on part. We also do private trainings and have for quite a few Fortune 100 companies who need to train their staff right out of their facility. We curtail the training to their specific aircraft.

IFUSA: What is your personal favorite aircraft to work on?

BB: I would say warbirds. I have a customer who has 28 warbirds that still fly. I have restored every single one of them cosmetically.

IFUSA: Do you work on many helicopters and how are they different from fixed-wing in terms of detailing?

BB: I recommend that every detailer have a briefing on any aircraft they wash or detail. This way they know the sensitive areas and the chemicals they want you to use or not use. We always read and educate ourselves with the maintenance manuals before detailing them. Yes, I do a lot of helicopters. We try to remove the exhaust stain or polish the windows. Here in Southern California, many helicopters are fighting fires, so they get abused fighting fires on the paint and windows. We are restoring windows roughly every six months for all the fire helicopters here in the local area.

IFUSA: What are your plans for the future?

BB: We are looking to build more locations. We are in the process of filming a new online course that is so indepth that it is mindboggling. I put a GoPro camera on and make it really hands-on even when it’s online. We plan to translate our training into different languages for different countries. We plan to come out with our own product line to pass Boeing’s specifications. Nearly 60 students have gone through our training program thus far.

IFUSA: Do you have anything else you would like to add?

BB: Yes, I travel the country doing cosmetic services on aircraft, and I look forward to continuing my travels.

able aviation fuels (SAF) that dramatically reduce lifecycle carbon emissions.

Additionally, the bill contains the NBAA-backed Promoting Service in Transportation Act (PSA) to raise awareness of the career opportunities available in aviation, through a series of targeted broadcast, digital and print public-service announcements from DOT to promote jobs throughout the transportation sector and foster diversity and inclusion across the industry.

The omnibus measure further provides an additional $559 million above FY2022 to the FAA for discretionary airport improvement grants and projects.

NBAA also applauds Members of the House and Senate who removed language from the bill that would have severely limited the use of GI Bill benefits for flight training by military veterans who want to enter the aviation industry.

Finally, the bill also reaffirms the FAA’s authority over the national air traffic control (ATC) system, lacking any mention of a renewed effort to move to a private, not-for-profit ATC network.

NBAA represents more than 10,000 company and professional members and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at nbaa.org.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 signed by President Biden late in December includes critical provisions for the aviation industry, from establishment of a pilot grant program for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) infrastructure to increased funding for key Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs. The bill authorizes $25 million over two years for the planning and construction of publicuse vertiports or associated infrastructure, with individual grants worth up to $1 million. It also funds critical programs such as aviation workforce grants and outreach, the testing of unleaded fuels for piston aircraft, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) grants, while protecting the contract tower program and maintaining FAA authority over the air traffic control system.

The United States Congress prioritized aviation safety, innovation, and sustainability in the FY 2023 omnibus appropriations bill, including NATA-supported provisions for the aviation industry, from the establishment of a pilot grant program for AAM infrastructure to increased funding for key FAA programs.

The omnibus bill implements the NATA-supported Advanced Aviation Infrastructure Modernization (AAIM) Act, authorizing $25 million over two years for grants for the planning and construction of public-use vertiports or associated infrastructure, with individual grants worth up to $1 million. Eligible entities include airport sponsors, transit and port authorities, and state and local governments, with priority given to those who partner with relevant industry stakeholders. Twenty percent of funding is reserved for projects in rural areas.

With a 9.3 percent increase in nondefense domestic spending, the legislation funds critical programs such as aviation workforce grants and outreach, the testing of unleaded fuels for piston aircraft, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) grants, and other sustainability efforts through FAA’s CLEEN and ASCENT programs. It also protects the contract tower program and continues FAA authority over the air traffic control system.

The omnibus spending bill allocates $11.9 billion for FAA operations – a $500 million increase over FY 2022. It also directs a total of $3.9 billion toward Grants-in-Aid for Airports, with up to $3.5 million to reimburse airport sponsors, ground service providers, and other airport tenants for financial losses incurred during a Presidential temporary flight restriction (TFR).

For more information visit the NATA website, www.nata.aero.