Does it make sense for an aircraft washing, cleaning and detailing service to look to Fixed Based Operators for washing contracts? Indeed it does, as often FBOs or Fixed Based Operators will have available aircraft washing services to customers and then wish to control costs by contracting it out to someone else.

Recently I was asked if it made sense to contract with FBOs as part of an aircraft washing business and was told by a new aircraft washing service industry start-up if this at all made any sense?

Yes I agree and have contracted the cleaning from many FBOs, generally due to short labor supplies and their high insurance costs to add a rider on the policy to clean the aircraft too. At one time our company sold franchises for those wishing to start aircraft cleaning services, although now we are not selling franchises in the USA, due to the over regulation of the Franchising Industry.

It does not make sense, too many rules, too many Lawyers for such a simplistic business. But since it is a lucrative business it makes more sense to put in company owned units and one thing we always look for is FBOs as potential customers or sub-contract their work out to our teams. If you own an aircraft washing, cleaning or detailing business then this makes sense and you might consider this in 2006.