Cleaning an aircraft exterior has traditionally been a laborious process, requiring a large team of crew members, hundreds of litres of water and potentially hours of work to remove dust and contaminants.
With the advent of innovative technology and cleaning methods, however, the process is changing – and fast, learns Madison James
Sustainable and automated aircraft cleaning solutions are becoming increasingly attractive prospects for consumers looking for ways to save water, time and manpower.
Enter Aerowash, a manufacturer of automated washing robots. Having held an aircraft washing contract with Finnair since 2010, the Sweden-based company, then known as Nordic GSE, moved into developing robotic models.
Some years later, in 2016, “the real journey started”, according to CEO Niklas Adler, and Aerowash was born.
“We made a separate company […] and we really started developing this machine,” he says.
“The first series was called the AW12, and the technology from that machine is still in the current models, although we have developed a lot over the last eight, nine years. But that was kind of the foundation.”
Aerowash machines use a robotic micro-fibre brush drum to clean planes with minimal water. The innovative method can save 75,000 litres per widebody aircraft and 30,000 litres per narrowbody on a yearly basis, with further reductions possible depending on the washing rotation. The machines can clean most types of planes, and minimal training is required to operate them via a wireless remote control.
In its early years, Aerowash focused on the North American market – until the Covid-19 pandemic hit, rocking the sector. “That was, as for everybody in this industry, a big setback,” Adler recalls. “But we spent that time during Covid to develop [our robots] further.
“After Covid, we came out with our AW3, which was an extended version. That was, in my view, a big success.”
Dry wash versus wet wash
Having its product tested so heavily was a “big step” for the company, especially as the AW3 included dry wash technology.
Compared to wet washing, which involves the use of water and soap to clean aircraft, dry washing is a newer method in which specialised cleaning agents are applied and wiped off with minimal use of water.
In January, Aerowash secured its first ever order for a company in Japan, which will use the machine for both wet and dry washing.
Robotic dry washing can offer several advantages – one of these being the “immense amount” of manpower it saves compared to a manual dry wash.
“You save more than 50%, maybe 60-70%,” Adler says. Plus: “The amount of time you save is well above 50%, freeing up valuable aircraft grounding time.” He adds that he is seeing a trend of customers increasingly opting for dry wash techniques, notably for environmental reasons. The dry wash method also provides increased operational flexibility, allowing aircraft to be cleaned wherever they are parked.
Moreover, customers in hotter regions such as the Middle East or in Southern Europe may need to opt for a dry wash due to restrictions on the amount of water they can use.
However, there is still a need for flexibility. In order for dry washing to be effective, aircraft cannot be excessively dirty. “I wouldn’t say that 100% [of customers are moving over], but it is definitely the trend,” says Adler.
Global deployments
The AW3 has been deployed in the Middle East, the US and Canada, Europe, India and Malaysia. In recent years, Aerowash has focused on expansion in the Indian market, collaborating with Air India SATS (AISATS) and deploying units at several airports throughout the country, marking India’s first robotic dry-wash service. AISATS has now carried out over 7,000 dry washes with Aerowash machines.
“AISATS, which is the ground handler for Air India, had a desire to be a first mover to this solution […] it was over three years back when they took the decision to move over to mechanised dry wash.
“So, they were the first mover who has done it at an industrial scale, but now I think there will be many others that will switch over within the next one, two, three years. It is really difficult to see that people five, 10 years from now will use the old wet wash, manual method.
“But of course, it’s a conservative environment,” he points out. “Aviation safety is always the number one, so that’s why it takes time to introduce new concepts. But now I think the whole industry is really switching over.”
A sustainable concept
Aerowash collaborates with French company Socomore to deliver its dry washing capabilities. Socomore’s exterior aircraft cleaner solution is 100% biodegradable, and saves 99% of the water that would usually be required with a wet wash.
All Aerowash units are powered by electricity, with their lead-acid batteries bolstered by a high-quality cooling system that prevents issues related to overheating.
Adler believes that the combination of automated technology and environmentally friendly cleaning methods is key to the product’s success.
“The industry is going towards more sustainable solutions, more automation,” he says.
“What is driving this development in automation is the demand for increased efficiency and larger fleets, plus the sustainable concept, and we can fulfil both these things for customers.
“That’s why I think there is such good demand and interest at the moment. It is both a sustainable solution and an efficient solution that makes the whole washing process better and faster,” he explains.
When it comes to what differentiates Aerowash’s robots from competitors, Adler highlights the high quality of the company’s products and its customer-centric approach. “The robustness, the user friendliness, and our customer support services – we have a good programme, I feel.”
In 2025, Aerowash launched an upgraded robot, the AW3+. The new machine can reach and wash the aircraft belly and the vertical tail, even on the largest of aircraft. Following extensive testing, the AW3+ is currently being deployed with its first customers.
“That’s also a big development for us. The more we can do with the machine, the less manpower is needed,” says Adler.
Further expansion
Aerowash secured another major achievement last year when it received approval from Boeing, with its W3 and AW12 models subsequently added to Boeing’s Airplane Maintenance Manuals (AMM). “That has been very important for us, because if you’re not in those manuals, it’s a challenge,” he says. The inclusion of GSE units in Airbus and Boeing manuals is key to demonstrating that they meet the technical, quality, and safety requirements of the aircraft.
Looking ahead, Aerowash is advancing a development project with an unnamed major European airline, with a launch expected this spring or summer.
“We have uptake now from the European market, for sure,” Adler says.
“I think automation is needed, sustainability is needed. For any European airline to switch over to 100% dry wash without using a mechanised tool would be simply impossible. It would require too much manpower to do it.”
Aerowash is also seeking to expand its global footprint. While the company is particularly active in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, South America and Africa are slower on the uptake.
“Like I said, when you take a new concept into a very conservative, risk-averse market, it takes some time for these organisations to adapt. [But] I think all of these markets will open in 2026,” predicts Adler.
