For those that have ever been offered a discounted wash and wax at an FBO (Fixed Based Operator), be skeptical. FBOs that do this are desperate for your business, which is not a bad thing in itself. However, the person that will be waxing, and even worse, polishing your airplane is the same one fueling it. More often than not, they lack the proper training to treat your paintwork with care. In fact, that person is likely being forced to do this service when things are slow. Do you really want to take a chance of someone burning your paint? More importantly, never let an FBO do bright work on your multi-million dollar aircraft unless they have a dedicated detailing department with a good reputation. I have worked at two FBOs that have offered this service to customers, including a Gulfstream that was a potential based customer.

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