Airplanes flying in the sky often catch our attention with their sleek designs and distinct colors, but there is one detail that most of us overlook – the overwhelming dominance of white.
If you’ve ever taken a moment to look at the planes parked at an airport or flying overhead, you’ve noticed that almost all commercial aircraft It is mainly painted white. But, is this common choice just a matter of aesthetic preference or are there reasons behind this widely accepted practice?
The main reasons airlines choose to paint their aircraft white
Group Captain HS Chimni VSM tells indianexpress.com, “White is a visually appealing color and provides an excellent base to showcase the airline’s logo. Airlines mainly paint their planes white for several reasons. White is visually appealing and provides a good background for displaying airline logos. In addition, white is associated with cleanliness and purity, which can enhance the appearance of the aircraft. From a maintenance perspective, white makes dirt and grime easier to spot, allowing for efficient cleaning.
Does the color of an aircraft’s exterior affect its temperature regulation and fuel efficiency?
Group Captain Chimney says that white paint is believed to help keep the temperature down when the aircraft is on the ground, but regardless of the color of the aircraft, it has no effect at altitude where the outside temperature is very cold.”
For fuel efficiency, color doesn’t play a role. “There is also a common belief that lighter colors like white are lighter in weight than darker colors, potentially saving fuel. But in terms of weight, 100 liters of white paint weighs the same as 100 liters of black paint and covers the same surface area,” he says.
White’s commercial appeal doesn’t guarantee many travelers; An airline’s safety record is what really attracts customers. (Source: Freepik)
Long-term effects of using light-colored paints on lifetime and maintenance costs
The life of aircraft paint depends on a variety of factors, says Group Capt. Chimney, including environmental conditions and paint quality. “Both white and dark colors require the same level of maintenance and repaint after the same period of time. The maintenance costs Based on airline policy and resources rather than aircraft availability. Therefore, although lighter colors look more attractive, they do not offer any significant benefits in maintenance or lifetime,” he noted.
Safety considerations related to aircraft paint
“Visibility is important for some types of aircraft. Helicopters, for example, often operate under visual flight rules (VFR) and are painted in bright colors such as red, green and yellow for maximum visibility. However, commercial jets operate under instrument flight rules (IFR). flies where safety is ensured by advanced air traffic control systems and onboard radars instead of visual signals,” says Group Captain Chimney.
Although white can make damage spots more visible, repair procedures do not depend on the color of the aircraft. In the military, the approach is different – visibility is minimized through camouflage for security purposes. For example, helicopters used in challenging terrain or in VFR conditions are painted in very bright colors to increase visibility and safety.
Commercial appeal of aircraft
Group Captain Chimney emphasizes, “For commercial jets, color is more of a commercial decision than a technical one. White serves as a fun base that allows logos and airline names to stand out, like writing on a white sheet of paper. It’s practical for branding, and it Not only does it offer technical advantages, it’s visually appealing.”
White’s commercial appeal doesn’t guarantee many travelers; one Airline’s safety record It actually attracts customers, he adds, as Sena operates with a different philosophy. “For operational effectiveness, military aircraft, except VIP jets, are painted in colors that reduce visibility. However, helicopters are painted in bright colors when they fly in areas where visibility is important for safety.”