All it takes is water, a mop and detergent. A midnight plane wash done entirely by hand.

For a huge plane, the only tool used to clean it was a handheld mop.

"The Boeing 777-300 we'll be working on tonight is a large aircraft, so it will take about four hours. Aircraft washing is mainly done at night, with a team of about 13 to 14 people washing two aircraft per night."

Yuki Konno, now 25 years old, said this. Since joining JAL Ground Services, he has been involved in aircraft washing for five years. At JAL, all planes are washed on a 90-day cycle.

"To be honest, when I joined the company, I was shocked to learn that airplanes are washed (laughs). The tools we use are mops, and they come in two sizes. One has a long handle for cleaning the sides of the aircraft, and the other has a shorter handle for cleaning under the fuselage."

Aircraft washing is done entirely by hand, from start to finish. The mops are nothing special, being only about 30cm wide, which is tiny compared to the enormous size of the aircraft. The mops are made of hard sponges, but they are hard work that sometimes has to be replaced overnight. It is a job that requires teamwork.

Two types of detergent are used. Careful work involving handling precision equipment

First, everyone masks off the sensors and auxiliary power units to prevent foam and water from getting in, as shown in the photo above. From there, each person is assigned their own area of responsibility. Then, they spray water on the area with a high-pressure hose, polish it with detergent, and rinse it off.

"We wash carefully, going from front to back to make sure we don't miss anything, and from bottom to top to make sure we don't leave any marks. Although airplanes have a streamlined shape, they have many small irregularities and there are many sensors, so we have to be very careful."

There are two types of detergent: regular detergent, which is diluted, and strong detergent, which is undiluted. You can either apply it directly or leave it to soak, depending on the level of dirt.

Pay particular attention to areas where dirt is noticeable and where customers can see it.

The areas where dirt is most noticeable are where the boarding gate stairs connect and around the engine exhaust vents.

"We will be focusing on cleaning these areas. We will also be cleaning the underside of the plane, especially the rear. Sometimes the dirt is baked on and cannot be removed, so in those cases we will deal with it during regular inspections called heavy maintenance."

The most difficult part of these tasks is the vertical stabilizer that rises from the rear of the aircraft. For the Boeing 777 series, the overall height is as high as 18.5m. We use a special vehicle lift for high-altitude work to reach the height of the stabilizer and perform the cleaning work.

"It's expensive, so I feel very nervous. But it has the JAL crane logo on it, so I wash it the most thoroughly. After all, a lot of customers take photos here, too."

Stains that change with the season and flight course, and cleaning techniques

Aircraft are in operation 365 days a year, so cleaning work is also carried out throughout the year.

"The dirt also changes depending on the season. At one point in the early spring, there was a flight returning from China that had yellow sand on it, and it was really dirty. In the summer, there are insects around the cockpit. Also, on winter flights coming from Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, we spray the entire wing with a special agent called anti-snow and anti-icing agent that makes it difficult for snow to stick, but that also becomes dirty."

As the seasons change, so do cleaning methods.

"In summer, water dries quickly, so it's easy for traces of water to remain, so we have to be careful about that. Also, in winter, if we pour water on it, it may freeze. So when the temperature is extremely low, we dry clean it. We scrub it with a detergent that has ingredients similar to oil, remove it with a mop covered in water, and finally wipe it dry. This increases the number of steps compared to usual, so it takes a lot longer in winter. In summer, it's so hot that you want to pour water over yourself, but winter may be even more difficult."

The world of craftsmen, where skill and expertise are required

Each of these tasks requires a high level of skill, and the job of washing aircraft is not something that can be done overnight.

"Experienced moppers scrub by bending the mop handle from side to side, but at first it was difficult to even move the mop against the machine. That was really hard practice... Also, when I first joined the company, I only washed the area the mop could reach from the ground, but gradually I was able to do more tasks. There is a vehicle license, and as I gained more years, I was able to ride the lift. In my case, I was given this responsibility after three or four years at the company."

The task of "washing an airplane" requires a variety of skills and qualifications. That is why, after being washed by professionals, the airplane looks as if it has been reborn.

"I feel the pressure of working as a team to finish things neatly by the set departure time, but that also gives me a sense of accomplishment. My current goal is to become someone who can lead a team. Once I get the vehicle qualifications and can do the work, I'll be able to see the overall flow of things."

Delivering a thorough clean and departing on time is a task that requires not only craftsmanship but also teamwork. In order to put our customers on a beautiful aircraft, it takes the efforts of each and every member of the team. Late-night aircraft washing is being carried out unnoticed in a corner of the airport.

Behind the Scenes at JAL

We'll take you behind the scenes of JAL's work, including inside stories on the introduction of the A350 and the development of in-flight meal menus.