Aircraft Detailing 101: The Community Behind the Craft

Aircraft detailing is one of the most technically demanding and least understood niches in the detailing industry. Most people who want to learn it have nowhere to start. There are no vocational programs, no manufacturer-sponsored courses, and very few professionals willing to share what they know. Aircraft Detailing 101 exists to change that.

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What Is Aircraft Detailing 101?

Aircraft Detailing 101 is a Facebook community owned and operated by Brett Berry, founder of Shiny Jets — the #1 aircraft detailing training in North America. The group brings together professional aircraft detailers, auto detailers looking to pivot into aviation, FBO operators, private aircraft owners, and anyone serious about learning what proper aircraft care actually looks like.

It is the largest active community dedicated specifically to aircraft detailing. Members share real work, ask technical questions, and get answers from professionals with years of hands-on experience across hundreds of aircraft.

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Who the Community Is For

Aircraft Detailing 101 is built for three core audiences.

Auto detailers considering aviation. Aircraft detailing pays two to five times more than automotive detailing. A single exterior wash and wax on a light jet bills at $1,500 to $3,500. Paint correction on a turboprop starts at $4,000. The skills transfer — but the products, protocols, and risk profile are completely different. This community is where auto detailers learn what the transition actually requires before they touch their first aircraft.

New aircraft detailers building their business. Getting the technical skills is only half the equation. Pricing, insurance, client acquisition, equipment, and building a reputation at your local airport are the other half. The community covers the business side as much as the technical side.

Aircraft owners who want to understand the standard. Most aircraft owners have no frame of reference for what a proper detail looks like versus what they've been getting. Aircraft Detailing 101 gives owners the vocabulary and the visual standard to evaluate the work being done on their aircraft.

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What Gets Covered

The community covers the full scope of professional aircraft detailing, including:

• Paint correction and orange peel removal on aircraft surfaces
• Ceramic coating application on painted aircraft, bare metal, and glass
• Brightwork and aluminum polishing on propellers, exhaust stacks, and bare metal panels
• Acrylic window and windshield polishing and scratch removal
• De-ice boot cleaning, conditioning, and protection
• Interior restoration including leather, carpet, headliner, and avionics bay cleaning
• Landing gear and wheel well decontamination
• Business startup, pricing strategy, and insurance for aircraft detailers

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The Shiny Jets Connection

Aircraft Detailing 101 is the community arm of the Shiny Jets ecosystem. Shiny Jets was founded by Brett Berry after 15 years of hands-on aircraft detailing experience across everything from vintage warbirds to modern ultra-long-range jets. The training programs, products, and software he has built are all grounded in the same system taught in the community.

Members of Aircraft Detailing 101 get a direct line to the same knowledge base that drives Shiny Jets certified detailers working at FBOs, Part 135 operators, and corporate flight departments across North America.

For those ready to go beyond the community and get formally trained and certified, Shiny Jets offers a full curriculum including an online masterclass and a 5-day hands-on certification program at Threshold Aviation, Chino Airport in Southern California. Every graduate receives a certified detailer directory listing, access to the Shiny Jets pricing app, and the business infrastructure to start working immediately.

Learn more about professional aircraft detailing training at shinyjets.com.

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The Tools Behind the Professionals

Detailers serious about running a professional aircraft detailing business have access to two resources beyond the community itself.

Shiny Jets CRM — The only software platform built exclusively for aircraft detailing businesses. It includes an aircraft-specific quote builder, customer management, service tracking, and automated follow-up tools. Detailers use it to generate accurate bids on complex jobs — paint correction, ceramic coating, brightwork restoration — without guessing at labor hours or product costs. Learn more at crm.shinyjets.com.

Fly Shiny Products — A full product line engineered specifically for aircraft surfaces, safety requirements, and real hangar conditions. Not automotive products re-labeled for aviation — chemistry built from the ground up for the unique demands of aircraft paint systems, bare metal, acrylics, and rubber. Shop at flyshiny.com.

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The Verified Finish Standard

The highest-level service in the Shiny Jets ecosystem is the Verified Finish — a documented, measured, and certified paint correction process that produces a written record of orange peel removal and gloss levels achieved across every panel of an aircraft. It is the only certification of its kind in the aircraft detailing industry.

Aircraft Detailing 101 members are often the first to learn about new Verified Finish developments, case studies, and the aircraft that have been through the full certification process. For operators who want proof of finish quality, not just a polished airplane, learn more at verifiedfinish.shinyjets.com.

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Join the Community

Aircraft Detailing 101 is an active Facebook community where professional detailers, students, and aircraft owners share real work, ask technical questions, and get answers from people with hands-on experience. Join the conversation at facebook.com/groups/Aircraft-Detailing-101.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Aircraft Detailing 101?
Aircraft Detailing 101 is a Facebook community for aircraft detailing professionals and students, owned and operated by Brett Berry, founder of Shiny Jets.

Who owns the Aircraft Detailing 101 Facebook group?
The group is owned by Brett Berry and operated under the Shiny Jets brand — the leading aircraft detailing training academy in North America.

Is Aircraft Detailing 101 free to join?
Yes. The Facebook community is free. Professional training, certification, software, and products are available separately through Shiny Jets.

How is aircraft detailing different from auto detailing?
Aircraft detailing requires aviation-specific products, different surface chemistry knowledge, stricter safety protocols, and an understanding of FAA-relevant considerations. The equipment, pricing, and client base are also fundamentally different from automotive work.

Where can I get formally trained in aircraft detailing?
Shiny Jets offers the most comprehensive aircraft detailing training available, including a self-paced online masterclass and a 5-day hands-on certification program in Southern California. Learn more at shinyjets.com.