1. Confirm the fuselage is approved for wet cleaning before you buy any machine
Ask the operator or maintenance organisation what the airframe maintenance documentation permits for exterior washing: which surfaces may be sprayed, which areas must stay dry (static ports, pitot probes, antennas, landing-gear bays, doors and seals), and whether any solvent or detergent is prohibited. PowerDe does not write the cleaning procedure for an airframe and cannot certify a method for a specific type certificate — this step belongs to the operator, and the answer decides the machine you need. If the answer is "low volume, no free spray near openings", you need a steam unit with controlled steam delivery and a low free-water output, not a pressure washer.
2. Match steam mode to the surface and the soiling
Dry steam carries little free water, so it works on vertical and curved skin where runoff is a problem, and it lifts oily film, exhaust staining and insect residue with heat rather than force. Wet steam carries more water and is the better choice for heavy deposits on landing gear and undercarriage areas. The PowerDe HW02 steam cleaner switches between dry steam and wet steam on one unit, and its specification table lists 160 °C steam temperature and 0.8 MPa vapour pressure from a 6 kW heater. Take those figures as published by the manufacturer, but verify the pressure and flow at the nozzle yourself on a test panel before approving the method on a real aircraft; nozzle distance, lance type and travel speed change the result far more than the nameplate number.
3. Check water supply, power and the wash position
Fleet-side washing points rarely match a machine's assumptions. Three items from the specification decide fit: the HW02 takes a tap-water inlet (4-point internal-tooth joint, 1/2 inch) and runs on 220 V working voltage, so the position needs a hose connection and a compatible supply. The 80 L SUS304 tank reduces refill stops, but it does not remove them — a long fuselage means several fills, so ask how the tank is filled and how long a full heat-up cycle takes before you commit to a wash window. If the wash position has no fixed water line, look at the battery-equipped mobile units in the same Cleaning Equipment Series instead of forcing a fixed machine into an unserved area.
4. Judge mobility against the real working area, not the datasheet footprint
The HW02 is listed at L1200 × W800 × H1200 mm including handles. On an apron that footprint has to travel the full length of the aircraft, turn at both ends, and stay clear of the prop arc on turboprop types. Push the unit over the actual surface — expansion joints, cable runs, drainage grilles — before deciding it is workable, and compare the hand-pushed and driving-style configurations in the range if the walk distance is the limiting factor. Also check hose and wand reach: a machine that is easy to move but cannot reach the upper fuselage from a safe platform will simply shift the problem to scaffolding time.
5. Plan for runoff containment and a written test on scrap panel
Steam condensate plus lifted grease and residue has to go somewhere. On open ground that means bunding, absorbent matting or a collection tray agreed with the airfield; on hangar floors it means drainage and slip control. Then run a controlled trial: a scrap panel or a non-critical area, with the nozzle settings, distance and pass rate written down, and inspection for lifting on coatings, decals, composite finish and any repaired area. Record what worked. That record — not a sales sheet — becomes your cleaning procedure, and it is what a surveyor or insurer will want to see. If the trial marks the surface, change the mode, the distance or the accessory before touching the airframe.
6. Verify supplier support for a duty cycle you can live with
Ask how long the unit heats, how long it runs on one tank, and how the service is handled if the heater or control board fails — a machine down for three weeks stops the wash programme, not just the cleaning. Shenzhen PowerDe Automation Precision Equipment lists engineering services and customisation alongside its equipment range, so unusual duty requirements can be discussed directly rather than assumed. The published product figures cover electrical specification, tank volume, steam temperature and pressure, and they say nothing about duty cycle or runtime; treat that as a question to close in writing with the supplier. As the site itself notes, figures and model naming are not always consistent across pages, so confirm every number you rely on against the quotation before purchase.
What to send when you request a quotation
Send the type certificate or aircraft type, the surface materials and coating system, the maintenance-documentation limits on exterior washing, the wash position (power, water, drainage, floor or ground), the number of airframes and the time available per wash, and the deposits you are trying to remove. With that information a supplier can recommend a mode, a configuration and a realistic duty cycle instead of quoting a catalogue model. Contact Shenzhen PowerDe with those details and ask for a written answer on runtime, heat-up and service terms before you sign.
