Many topics are covered in this discussion of the ninth year since production dry stripping began in May 1985.
Chemical strippers continue to be heavily regulated or banned. All other alternate coating removal processes are still in developmental stages, have not shown viability for production use and have not been accepted by maintenance operations or received manufacturer approvals. Dry media stripping continues to expand and to produce a very successful record--particularly wheat starch media.
In a no technical objection letter dated April 30, 1993, America West Airlines, Phoenix, Arizona, received authorization for five time stripping of Boeing airframes utilizing wheat starch media.
Additional approvals for graphite-epoxy and fiberglass composite dry paint stripping were recently published by Boeing.
Hill Air Force Base, Utah, generates zero hazardous waste from its dry stripping operation.
Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, corrosion control facility, the largest dry stripping facility in the world, was completed in July 1992, and is successfully stripping C-5 airframes on a production basis.
US Navy Aviation Depot, Pensacola, Florida, continues its successful dry stripping program, stripping over one hundred aircraft the past year with Type V media. Sealant and residue from rotor blades were successfully removed utilizing wheat starch media.