How AISATS x Aerowash are transforming aircraft exterior cleaning
Did you know that each aircraft you board undergoes thorough cleaning, both its interior (cabin) and exterior (surface)? More importantly, did you know that there’s an ecological and innovative solution revolutionising the way aircraft exteriors are cleaned at Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS)?
It’s called Aerowash.
Since its introduction in July 2023 at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, Aerowash has revolutionised aircraft cleaning by making it faster, safer, and more sustainable.
Why planes are cleaned
Aircraft cleaning might seem like a superficial task that passengers like us rarely think about. But unknown to many, it is a task critical for both the flight’s performance and safety.
Aeroplanes are constantly exposed to dirt, dust, insect debris, oil marks, and grease. If not cleaned regularly, these deposits can cause more air resistance (or aerodynamic drag), increasing fuel usage, hence, higher carbon emissions. Cleaning also reduces corrosion, thereby increasing the lifespan of an aircraft.
Planes are cleaned several times a year, depending on how often they are flown.
AISATS, a joint venture between Air India Ltd and SATS Ltd, offers aircraft cleaning services, amongst other ground services, in major airports in India.
The labour-intensive past
Before Aerowash, aircraft cleaning at AISATS was labour intensive and time-consuming. Cleaning an aircraft requires almost a team of close to 10 ground staff working for several hours.
Employees had to climb ladders and utilise elevated platforms to clean every corner and crevice. Adding to the challenge, traditional cleaning methods consumed more than 1,000 litres of water per aircraft.
Enter Aerowash
Aerowash has since changed the game at AISATS. This revolutionary robotic cleaning system has a telescopic arm with a microfibre brush and a plant-based cleaning solution. In contrast to traditional methods, Aerowash uses dry-wash technology, reducing the necessity of water by more than 90% while still providing a better aircraft external clean.
With Aerowash, an aircraft can be cleaned in less time and with fewer workers. In just over a year’s time, it has saved over 5,000 man-hours in external aircraft cleaning services for AISATS.
“Aerowash is a game-changing technology that immensely benefits our customer airlines and our staff,” shares Ramana R, Chief Executive Officer at AISATS. “The reduced cleaning times lead to faster aircraft turnarounds, while the superior cleaning finish conserves fuel consumption during flights, leading to lesser carbon emissions. Aerowash also enhances our staff’s existing skills, making them more tech-savvy as they operate this unique cleaning technology across our stations.”
A different way of aircraft cleaning
Beyond efficiency, Aerowash champions environmentally friendly practices. Since its adoption in mid-2023, AISATS has saved more than 4.2 million litres of water—enough to fill about two Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Battery-powered and diesel-free, Aerowash generates zero carbon emissions. Its cleaning solution is a plant-based formula for dry washing aircraft surfaces. In just over a year, Aerowash has completed more than 2,000 aircraft cleanings, helping to reduce more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Aerowash’s superior polish also helps airlines save on fuel by reducing aerodynamic drag. A single narrow-body aircraft, cleaned with Aerowash, can save up to a few percentage points of aviation turbine fuel per flight, significantly cutting both costs and emissions.
This commitment to sustainability recently earned AISATS the International Green Apple Environment Award in November 2024. The prestigious honour, presented at Kensington Palace in London, recognised Aerowash’s environmental impact amongst over 1,200 nominations.
-(1).jpg?sfvrsn=1fb6e7af_0 "International-Green-Apple-Award-2024-AISATS")
“Sustainability is an integral aspect of our mission at AISATS,” states Ramana. “We are happy to take the initiative and plan on introducing more environmentally friendly solutions to help support a more sustainable aviation sector.”
Hope for cleaner skies
Currently, Aerowash is in use at Delhi Airport, serving major clients like Air India and Air India Express. With its proven success, AISATS has recently expanded its fleet of Aerowash machines and introduced the technology at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru in November 2024 and plans to do the same at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad.
Ramana believes that balancing profitability and environmental sustainability is possible by demonstrating that high operational standards can be upheld alongside planet conservation efforts.
Innovations like Aerowash illuminate the path forward as the aviation industry works towards balancing growth with environmental responsibility. Cheers to cleaner skies for the aviation industry!
More Stories