NEW STARS of the Jetstar fleet are five Q300 turboprop aircraft repainted with DESOTHANE® HD/CA 9008 basecoat-clearcoat by PPG (NYSE:PPG) with a separate silver-mica coating over the grey basecoat for special-effect shimmer, high-gloss shine and added protection. The first repainted aircraft is shown at the Townsville Airport, Queensland, Australia, paint facility of Flying Colours Aviation. (Photo courtesy of Jetstar) |
TOWNSVILLE AIRPORT, QUEENSLAND, Australia, June 7, 2016 – Aerospace coatings by PPG (NYSE:PPG) are adding the distinctive silver sparkle to the Jetstar livery on five Q300 turboprops repainted for the airline’s new regional service in New Zealand.
DESOTHANE® HD/CA 9008 basecoat-clearcoat exterior topcoat system by PPG was selected for the Jetstar aircraft because it provides a colour-rich high-gloss finish that weighs less than traditional systems, for improved aircraft fuel economy, and is easier to apply. PPG coatings experts recommended that silver mica flakes be dispersed in a separate clear coating applied between the grey basecoat and final clearcoat layer for a brighter, more shimmering appearance and added protection.
“It was important to Jetstar to achieve the special-effect silvery shine on its livery because it is part of their branding and an important asset,” said Selma Ljubuncic, PPG senior account manager for original equipment and commercial airlines at its Tullamarine, Victoria, Australia, application support centre.
Ljubuncic called on PPG’s technical service representatives Ken Foo in Singapore and Craig Pedersen in Irvine, California, for their expertise during the repainting of the first aircraft by Flying Colours Aviation. Foo and Pedersen were on-site at Flying Colours Aviation’s Townsville Airport paint facility to make sure the PPG Desothane HD system’s superior aesthetics were achieved along with ease of application.
Flying Colours Aviation was already acquainted with the painter-friendly benefits of the PPG system, including its environmental adaptability, high-quality gloss and fast-drying basecoat. “We have a very good relationship with Flying Colours Aviation, which has used the Desothane HD basecoat-clearcoat system by PPG and is very comfortable with it, so we knew we had a good team,” Ljubuncic said.
“Using the PPG coatings enabled us to reduce the full strip-and-paint process to an industry-leading 11 days,” said Linda Armstrong, managing director of Flying Colours Aviation. “We have used the PPG basecoat-clearcoat system on many aircraft, and as usual the paint system did not disappoint. The finish and gloss levels were of a high standard, and Jetstar are extremely happy with the end result.”
Having the mica dispersed in a separate clearcoat instead of within the coloured basecoat gives the aircraft the brilliant shine Jetstar wanted while ensuring good application properties, according to Ljubuncic.
Jetstar had the five Q300 turboprops formerly used by QantasLink repainted as its first to fly under the Jetstar brand. (Click here for a video produced by Jetstar that shows repainting of the first aircraft.)
“This project brought PPG, QantasLink, Jetstar and Flying Colours Aviation together on Australia’s first basecoat-clearcoat system with mica effects,” Ljubuncic said.
High-solids Desothane HD/CA 9008 basecoat-clearcoat systems have a heavily-pigmented basecoat that provides more colour coverage with less paint than traditional coatings, saving material, weight and application time. The clearcoat provides a high-gloss shine, extended service life, improved buffability and a smoother surface that is easier to clean.
PPG’s global aerospace business offers coatings, sealants, transparencies, packaging and application systems, and transparent armor, as well as chemical management and other services. For more information, visit www.ppgaerospace.com.
About The Jetstar Group
The Jetstar Group is one of Asia Pacific’s fastest growing airline brands with one of the most extensive range of destinations in the region. It is made up of Jetstar Airways (subsidiary of the Qantas Group) in Australia and New Zealand, Jetstar Asia in Singapore, Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam and Jetstar Japan in Japan. Jetstar branded carriers operate more than 4,000 flights a week to more than 75 destinations across Asia Pacific. The Jetstar Group carried more than 29 million passengers in financial year 2015.
For more information, head to Jetstar.com.
About Flying Colours Aviation
Flying Colours Aviation is a CASA Part 145 approved organization. It is an Australian family-owned and -operated company that provides complete painting refinishing of exterior, cabin interior and components for civil and defence aircraft and assets. The directors, senior management and staff have more than 150 years combined experience in the refurbishment of aircraft. The company has a successful track record in corporate/VIP, airline and defence aircraft painting since 1985 in Australia and the United Kingdom. The Townsville Airport dedicated paint facility is AS/NZ 4114-2003 certified. For more information, visit www.flyingcoloursaviation.com.
PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD™
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 130 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.3 billion in 2015. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.
We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
Desothane is a registered trademark of PRC-DeSoto International, Inc.
Q300 is a trademark of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Media Contacts:
Audrey Fujimoto
PPG
+1-818-741-1685
audrey.fujimoto@ppg.com
www.ppgaerospace.com
Jean Verlich
JV Communications
+1-724-916-4558
jverlich@jvcommunications.com