What is paint protection film?
Paint protection film is a self-healing urethane applied to high-impact areas — leading edges, radome, belly strike zones. On a light jet it runs 20–36 hours and $6,000–$14,000, and lasts 5–10 years.
BY AIRCRAFT CLASS
Price and turn time, by airframe.
| CLASS | EXAMPLE | RANGE | TURN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piston | Cirrus SR22, Baron 58 | $2,700 – $6,300 | 9–16 hrs |
| Turboprop | King Air 350, TBM 960 | $4,200 – $9,800 | 14–25 hrs |
| Light Jet | Phenom 300, CJ4 | $6,000 – $14,000 | 20–36 hrs |
| Midsize | Learjet 75, Hawker 900XP | $8,100 – $18,900 | 27–49 hrs |
| Super-Mid | Challenger 350, Citation Longitude | $10,200 – $23,800 | 34–61 hrs |
| Heavy | Global 7500, Gulfstream G650 | $13,800 – $32,200 | 46–83 hrs |
| Helicopter | AW139, Bell 429 | $5,400 – $12,600 | 18–32 hrs |
| Airliner / VIP | BBJ, ACJ320 | $20,400 – $47,600 | 68–122 hrs |
Light condition — illustrative, subject to inspection
FULL SCOPE
- Impact mapping — where this airframe actually takes damage
- Pattern cut to the aircraft, not a generic template
- Leading edges, radome, wing root and belly strike zones filmed
- Edges sealed and wrapped where the profile allows
- Cure and post-inspection after 48 hours
APPROVED MATERIALS
- Aviation-grade self-healing urethane, 8 mil
- Slip and tack solutions, residue-free
- Edge sealer rated for the flight envelope
QC CHECKPOINTS
- No lifted edges under a raking light
- No trapped contamination beneath the film
- Film map recorded to the aircraft record
WHAT THIS PROTECTS
Rain erosion and debris strike destroy leading-edge paint first. Film is far cheaper than the strip-and-repaint that follows if it is left unprotected.
Questions owners actually ask
- Is film visible?
- Not once cured, on a correctly prepared surface. Edges are placed on panel lines wherever the geometry allows.
- Can film and ceramic be combined?
- Yes, and it is the strongest combination available: film on the impact zones, ceramic over the whole airframe including the film.