Aircraft Paint Stripping
Full or partial aircraft paint removal using dual media — dry ice + crushed glass — without sandblast damage to aluminium skin or rivets.
Full or partial aircraft paint removal using dual media — dry ice + crushed glass — without sandblast damage to aluminium skin or rivets.
Aircraft paint stripping is one of the hardest jobs in MRO — sandblasting risks aluminium skin and rivet damage, chemical strippers require hazardous material handling and extended soak times, and manual scraping is labour-intensive. Our dual-media process combines dry ice blasting (thermal shock) with crushed glass abrasive to lift paint layers without transferring the damage risks of traditional methods.
Stock imagery for now — we'll replace with own-job photography as we deliver work through 2026.
What you can expect
- GA aircraft (Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft class)
- Helicopters
- Agricultural aircraft
- Turboprop MRO
- Flying club fleet maintenance
Why dry ice for aircraft paint strip
Substrate preserved
Crushed glass is softer than sandblasting media — aluminium skin, rivets, and composite panels stay undamaged with correct pressure.
No chemical inventory
No solvent strippers to store, handle, or dispose of under DG regulations.
Selective stripping
Mask stencils, markings and primer layers to retain — only the topcoat comes off.
How a typical aircraft paint strip job runs
- 1
Scope agreement
Full strip, topcoat-only, or partial panel — agreed with the maintenance authority before work commences.
- 2
Masking
Stencils, registration markings, avionics bay seals and any retained primer are masked.
- 3
Dual-media blast
Dry ice + crushed glass applied section by section. Operator tunes pressure per panel type.
- 4
Secondary waste collection
Crushed glass media and stripped paint collected and disposed of on-site. No sandblast-scale media volume.
Surfaces & limits
Where this service works well — and the situations we'll flag for repair instead of cleaning.
- Aluminium skin and fuselage panels
- Composite panels (pressure-tuned)
- Control surfaces
- Wheel spats and fairings
- Components requiring certified abrasive blast per OEM spec only
- NDT-critical surfaces without maintenance authority sign-off
Typical price for aircraft paint strip
Multi-week site contracts, plant-wide programs, MRO, pharma reactors.
Final price depends on condition, scope and travel. Use the quote form for a postcode-specific estimate.
Get exact estimateService-specific FAQs
Is there secondary waste?
Yes — the crushed glass media and stripped paint are collected on-site and disposed of properly. Unlike chemical stripping, there is no liquid hazardous waste stream.
Will it damage my aluminium skin?
No, when pressure is calibrated correctly. Crushed glass is a much softer abrasive than sand. We sample-test on an inconspicuous panel first and document the result before full-scope work.
Do you travel to regional airstrips?
Yes — we travel throughout NSW and can quote nationally for large contracts. Travel costs are included in the fixed quote.
Do you need to work in a hangar?
Preferred — wind and rain affect media control. A closed hangar makes the job cleaner and faster. Open-air work is possible in calm conditions.
Related services
Aircraft Cleaning
Engine, gear bay and airframe cleaning to maintenance-grade standards — without solvent or sandblast damage.
Undercarriage Cleaning
Strip off years of road tar, oil and underbody grime without lifting the body.
Antifoul Stripping
Strip layered antifoul from hulls without sandblasting damage or chemical run-off.
Ready for a aircraft paint strip quote?
Send a brief for an instant range, or send us a quick brief and we'll come back within 24 hours with a fixed quote.
Or talk to us directly
- 02 5302 6367
- office@dryiceblasters.com.au
- Mon–Fri 7am–6pm · Sat 8am–2pm · Sun by appointment