Free Aircraft Detailing Training: GTA Academy Level 1

What does the free aircraft detailing training include?

The free Level 1 of GTA Academy by Global Ties Aviation includes all of Module 1, Foundation: every lesson and knowledge check, the Foundation exam and the field work. It also includes Certification 1, CAAP Foundation, issued by a person once the exam is passed and the field work reviewed. A place in the GTA members' network comes with it.

Members of the network keep a profile and appear in the directory if they choose. They read the work board and can ask for introductions, which a person at Global Ties Aviation makes. Leads, the AI tutor and the business tools stay with the paid plans.

Who can ask for Level 1?

Anyone 18 or older can ask for Level 1 of GTA Academy by Global Ties Aviation. You create a free account, confirm your age, accept the code of conduct and ask to join the GTA network. Asking opens nothing by itself: a person at Global Ties Aviation reviews every request, and you get an email when access opens.

Level 1 asks for no aviation background. Module 1 starts from how aviation is organized and builds from there.

What does Module 1 teach?

Module 1, Foundation, teaches the base every aircraft detailer needs before touching an aircraft. It covers how aviation is organized and who buys appearance work, every surface and material on the aircraft, and the chemistry that cleans it or ruins it. It also covers job sizing, tools, the pre-job protocol, the ramp and hangar, and safety.

The module closes with how a professional handles clients and their privacy, and why the GTA Standard exists. At the suggested pace it is about 14 hours of study, the first week and a half of the six-week program.

How is the CAAP Foundation certification earned?

The CAAP Foundation certification is earned by passing the Module 1 exam and having the module's field work reviewed and passed by a person. The exam is timed at 60 minutes, with multiple-choice and short scenario answers, and the pass mark is 80 percent. You get three attempts, 48 hours apart. A person issues every certificate.

The certification's full name is Certified Aircraft Appearance Professional (CAAP) Foundation. CAAP is a private professional certification issued by Global Ties Aviation. It is not an FAA certificate, a mechanic or repairman certificate, or a maintenance authorization; the FAA issues no certificate for detailing under 14 CFR Part 65.

What comes after Level 1?

After Level 1, the full six-week program of GTA Academy by Global Ties Aviation comes with any monthly plan: Launch, Operator or Command. Plans add Module 2, Interior, Module 3, Exterior, and Module 4, Standing Out and Operating, with Certifications 2 and 3. They also add the AI tutor, leads and the Detailer OS. Level 1 progress carries over.

Holding all three certifications, CAAP Foundation, CAAP Interior and CAAP Exterior, makes you a Certified Aircraft Appearance Professional (CAAP). Plan prices are shown once a person has approved your application. After the online program, supervised hands-on training on real aircraft leads to the CAAP Hands-On Endorsement.

Why learn aircraft detailing properly before working on aircraft?

Aircraft detailing needs proper training because aircraft materials, paint and windows react badly to car-care habits. The FAA's AC 43.13-1B warns that window sprays, alcohol and common solvents craze acrylic windows. Its AC 43-4B advises against highly alkaline cleaners and steam on aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also warned operators in InFO 16005 about automotive detailers working on aircraft. Steps around a wash, such as covering pitot-static ports, can be maintenance or preventive maintenance, which needs an A&P mechanic or another authorized person. Module 1 teaches where that line is, and Module 4 covers insurance such as hangarkeepers liability, airport access and agreements with fixed-base operators (FBOs).

How do I start?

Start at GTA Academy: create a free account, confirm you are 18 or older, accept the code of conduct and ask for Level 1. A person at Global Ties Aviation reviews the request. Once approved, Module 1 opens one unit at a time, and you can study at your own pace.

Questions before you ask? The FAQ answers the common ones, and the GTA network page explains membership.

FAQ

Sources

• GTA Academy by Global Ties Aviation (program, Level 1 and certification rules): https://globaltiesaviation.com/academy
• 14 CFR Part 65, Certification: Airmen other than flight crewmembers: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65
• FAA AC 43.13-1B with Change 1, chapter 3, paragraph 3-25: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43.13-1B_w-chg1.pdf
• FAA AC 43-4B, Corrosion Control for Aircraft: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43-4B.pdf
• FAA InFO 16005, Automotive Detailing Companies Working on Aircraft: https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/InFO16005.pdf