Nantucket Auto Detailing: How to Remove “Nantucket Pinstripes”

August 16, 2017
ACK auto detailing

The culprit of the infamous “Nantucket Pinstripes”

“Nantucket pinstripes” is the term coined for any car on-island that has received light scratches from the bushes that line the narrow beach roads of the island.

While some scratches can be deep and require more professional on-island Nantucket auto detailing, often times most Nantucket pinstripes can be successfully buffed out at home with a little time and effort. In this blog post we’re going to show you the steps you can take to remove light scratches from your car’s paint and get back out onto the roads of Nantucket in style!
It’s a good idea to establish the depth of the scratches on your vehicle before you begin any type of scratch removal process.  In most cases your car should have 4 main layers; a clear coat, color primer and steel. If the scratch is only as deep as the clear coat or color, it will be much easier to remove and won’t require the services of a professional auto detailing service.

 

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Fractional Jet Ownership: Is it worth it?

December 14, 2012

Fractional Jet Ownership

Fractional jet membership is the partial ownership of a private airplane.  The shares are most often brokered through a company that maintains the aircraft, employs the pilots and support crews, and takes care of the day-to-day operations.  An owner first pays an upfront, pro-rated fee that reflects the fractional share involved (common fractions are 1/16 and 1/8).  This ensures the owner a specific amount of in flight airtime.  The owner also pays a monthly maintenance fee which is used for the upkeep of the plane, fuel, taxes, licenses, and other expenses related to owning a plane.

Pros of Purchasing Fractional Jet Shares:

  • Benefits of ownership without the work:  Other people keep maintenance logs, negotiate hanger and airport fees, and take care of the small things.
  • Avoid traumatic commercial flights:  Commercial fliers, even those who pay the extra dollars for first class, are treated to invasive airport security, rising costs and surcharges, tighter restrictions, and smaller seats.  Much of this is avoided as private aviation is handled differently than commercial flights.
  • Increase in safety:  Companies that offer jet shares usually maintain a newer fleet than commercial carriers.
  • Extra perks:  Some companies offer concierge services, catering, and individualized media choices.
  • Up and downgrades depending on travel plans:  Some jet shares offer optional up or downgrades to planes more suited to the traveler’s needs at the time.  Although some people will buy a jet share for the consistency of the model they are purchasing, the possibilities are there.
  • Addition of airports:  Commercial flights are regulated to a limited number of airports around the world appropriate to the size and security required.  Flying private increases the number of available airports considerably.

Cons of Purchasing Fractional Jet Shares:

  • High degree of commitment of both time and money:  With the upfront payment, monthly dues, and other possible charges, an person has to be very sure that a fractional jet share is the right fit for them.
  • There is some exposure to depreciation of the initial capital.
  • Many fractional jet share contracts are long term and may not have exit options.
  • Hidden costs:  This could be anything from “dead-head charges” to penalties for not enough advance warning for the plane.  These should be covered in the contract to the smallest detail.

Although fractional jet shares are relatively new to the aviation market, the flexibility and convenience often outweigh the costs.  Interested parties should examine all the advantages and disadvantages of jet shares and seek counsel when considering a contract.

3 Must-Have Interior Aircraft Cleaning Products

December 11, 2012

Whether or not you choose to utilize a professional aircraft cleaning company to detail your aircraft, its still a good idea to look aftewr your interior as much as possible by yourself. Even if it’s just a quick wipedown after each flight, every little bit adds up and makes a huge difference in the long run. With so many aircraft cleaning products to choose from we’ve narrowed down a list of 3 must-have aircraft cleaning products for your interior.

Aircraft Cleaning Products

 

1. Aircraft Leather Cleaner & Conditioner: Aircraft leather takes a beating from UV rays when it’s sitting on a tie-down. It can be one of the most time consuming areas in aircraft interior detailing services. Especially if you live in a warm weather climate this is an area that you need to pay attention to. Aircraft leather can become faded and cracked very quickly when it dries out in the sun. It’s also expensive to refurbish, restore or replace aircraft leather because it’s often a fully custom job. Perrone makes great aviation leather cleaner and conditioner. FreshAir distributes this product through our online store and we’re proud to use it during our interior cleanings.

2. Plastic/Acrylic/Window polish: Although you wouldnt think it, the interior acrylic surfaces can get smudged and worn fairly quickly. If you fly with children they’ll be constantly touching the windows looking outside. If you travel with pets they can easily scratch the soft acrylic. We use and recommend a product called Novus for our acrylic polishing. Not only does it polish but also can help remove minor scratches and scrapes without needing a full restoration.

 

aircraft cleaning products

 

 

 

3. A small handheld vacuum: This one is pretty self-explanatory. Having clean carpets and area around the cockpit not only looks nice but also helps keep your aircraft safe. When the cabion is neat and organized you can keep track of flight plans, papers, and just generally feel more organized and in control when flying. Really any small wet/dry vac will do, just make sure its small enough to keep in the aircraft full time. If you’re constantly taking it out of the aircraft it wont be so easy to give the interior a once over with the vacuum after each flight.