What is brightwork?
Brightwork is the multi-stage polishing of bare or clad aluminium — leading edges, nacelles, exhaust stacks — to a mirror finish. On a light jet it runs 16–30 hours and $2,800–$5,500 depending on how far the oxidation has advanced.
BY AIRCRAFT CLASS
Price and turn time, by airframe.
| CLASS | EXAMPLE | RANGE | TURN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piston | Cirrus SR22, Baron 58 | $1,250 – $2,500 | 7–14 hrs |
| Turboprop | King Air 350, TBM 960 | $1,950 – $3,850 | 11–21 hrs |
| Light Jet | Phenom 300, CJ4 | $2,800 – $5,500 | 16–30 hrs |
| Midsize | Learjet 75, Hawker 900XP | $3,800 – $7,450 | 22–41 hrs |
| Super-Mid | Challenger 350, Citation Longitude | $4,750 – $9,350 | 27–51 hrs |
| Heavy | Global 7500, Gulfstream G650 | $6,450 – $12,650 | 37–69 hrs |
| Helicopter | AW139, Bell 429 | $2,500 – $4,950 | 14–27 hrs |
| Airliner / VIP | BBJ, ACJ320 | $9,500 – $18,700 | 54–102 hrs |
Light condition — illustrative, subject to inspection
FULL SCOPE
- Assessment of oxidation depth and existing polish history
- Multi-stage cut, refine and finish on all clad aluminium
- Exhaust stack and tailpipe soot removal and polish
- Nacelle lip and inlet ring finished to mirror
- Sealant applied to slow re-oxidation
APPROVED MATERIALS
- Progressive aviation polishing compounds, coarse through finish
- Dedicated non-contaminated pads per stage
- Metal sealant with UV inhibitor
QC CHECKPOINTS
- Reflection check against a straight edge at three angles
- No compound residue in seams, fasteners or rivet lines
- Adjacent painted surfaces masked and inspected after unmasking
WHAT THIS PROTECTS
Oxidation is progressive. Polished and sealed aluminium stays serviceable; neglected aluminium eventually needs material removed, and there is a finite amount of cladding to give.
Questions owners actually ask
- How long does brightwork stay mirrored?
- Sealed brightwork holds 4–8 months depending on environment and utilisation. Coastal and high-cycle operations sit at the short end.
- Can heavily oxidised metal be recovered?
- Usually, but it takes more stages and more hours. We assess before quoting, because the honest answer is sometimes that the cladding is too far gone to chase.